19 Dec 2012

Bail refused for Kaitaia man charged with child sex abuse

3:34 pm on 19 December 2012

A Kaitaia businessman and foster parent charged with abusing young boys will remain in jail over Christmas.

Daniel Taylor, who was an elder in the Mormon Church and a Child Youth and Family caregiver, is facing 22 charges of sexual assault on boys.

He applied for electronic bail on Wednesday in the Kaitaia District Court, but Judge John McDonald refused it. He says Mr Taylor is facing serious charges involving children, including one who had been in his custody.

He said the police evidence was that Mr Taylor had shown a careful and devious mind in grooming boys for sexual offending by gaining the trust of their families.

He said electronic monitoring would not prevent Mr Taylor from trying to contact or influence the complainants while on bail and he remanded him until 31 January.