A private music tutor has been accused of sexually abusing his students.
The man, in his 20s, was granted name suppression at Auckland District Court on Wednesday after he appeared on three charges of doing an indecent act and one of indecent assault against two alleged victims.
The defendant's lawyer Richard Keam applied for name suppression because his client was "psychologically quite fragile" and that the the identities of the complainants must be protected.
His application was supported by the police, but for different reasons.
They wanted the name of the alleged abuser to be kept secret so their investigation would not be jeopardised. A prosecutor in court indicated there may be more victims to uncover.
A 14-year-old boy is understood to have approached police with allegations of offending over a few months at the end of last year.
Outside court, the defendant - who won national awards for his musical talents while a student at a top Auckland school - told NZME the more serious charge of indecent assault against a 10-year-old student emerged after police began their enquiries.
Court documents allege the offence took place some time last year and that the defendant took a photo of the indecent assault taking place.
The music tutor said he had only started tutoring to make money while searching for a job.
"It's not like I pick on kids," he said.
He believed the allegations regarding the teenager were that he smacked the boy's bottom, something he said the complainant's parents encouraged him to do.
"I don't like the idea of touching other people, and kids especially not," he said outside court.
"I've taught many people in the past and I've never done it before."
According to court documents, the man lives in one of the city's most upmarket suburbs but he said his family was not wealthy.
"It's the time when I start looking for jobs and then this pops up," he said.
"It's at a terrible terrible stage in my life right now."
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges yesterday and will be back before the court next month.
He was remanded on bail under the condition he was never alone with children under the age of 16.
- By Rob Kidd of NZME.
