Man accused of Alexandra school holiday programme indecent assault named as Terence Rawson

Terence Rawson entered a not guilty plea to the charge in Christchurch District Court.

A man who denies indecently assaulting a girl during a school holiday programme can be named today.

Terence Raymond Rawson, 56, was arrested after the alleged assault at a Ministry of Social Development-run holiday programme at Alexandra Primary School on January 12.

Rawson, of Woodend in North Canterbury, later appeared at Christchurch District Court where he applied for name suppression.

However, a judge rejected the application.

Defence counsel James Rapley had indicated that he would appeal the decision to the High Court.

But when Rawson appeared at Christchurch District Court again today and entered a not guilty plea to the charge, Rapley confirmed that no appeal would be pursued.

Name suppression has now lapsed for Rawson, who has elected trial by jury.

He was remanded on continued bail, with conditions not to enter schools and not to associate with any unaccompanied child under 16, to a case review hearing on April 24.