Alleged sexual predator faces 20 new charges

1:59 pm on 4 March 2016

A Taranaki man police say is a sexual predator who preyed on his victims over two decades faces 20 new charges.

The 36-year-old Hawera man, who appeared in the High Court in New Plymouth this morning, now faces a total of 48 charges, including rape.

The man, who has interim name suppression, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.

Police say the offending occurred between 1993 and 2012 in Hawera, Otorohanga and Te Awamutu.

There are at least 19 alleged victims, including males and females, some of whom are members of the defendant's family.

The man was remanded in custody and ordered to reappear on 29 April.

A five-week trial has been set down to begin on 8 August.