Taxpayer pays alleged offender's rent while on bail

File photo / NZ Herald

Taxpayers will foot the bill to keep an alleged sex offender at a rental property so he can have electronic bail while awaiting trial in August.

The former Christchurch man, who had been working on a West Coast farm at the time of his alleged offending, has been in custody since last October.

He first appeared in court then on charges of sexually violating and indecently assaulting his daughter, using a belt as a weapon when assaulting his son, and assaulting another boy who was staying with the family.

All charges are alleged to have been committed between January and August 2011.

In Greymouth District Court yesterday, defence lawyer Doug Taffs sought electronically monitored bail at a Christchurch address.

He said Work and Income had agreed to pay the $1500 bond and weekly rent of $300 on the property.

Mr Taffs argued that the Crown's strenuous opposition to bail was unfairly based on the man's track record, not his current situation.

Apart from the new allegations, the man had been trouble-free since being released from prison in 2009, serving 12 months' parole without incident.

"Two years may not seem much, but considering his past record it is a significant change," Mr Taffs said.

Judge Raoul Neave said the defendant had an appalling list of previous convictions, including 17 incidents of family violence, but most of it pre-dated 2000.

He granted bail until the man's trial in August but warned the defendant that it would not take much to put him back behind bars.

"If you step out of line by even a centimetre you will be back in custody smartly," Judge Neave said.