Auckland entertainer Cole Johnston is facing fresh underage sex charges. Photo / Supplied
An Auckland entertainer accused of grooming and sexually assaulting a young girl is now facing fresh charges alleging he sexually abused three other underage females.
Actor and musician Cole Thomas Johnston, 28, was named in August last year as the man facing 12 charges related to the initial alleged victim.
The alleged offending includes multiple counts of male rapes female, unlawful sexual connection, doing an indecent act and meeting after sexual grooming.
Court documents show police laid eight sexual violation charges, all of which are representative and carry a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years.
Johnston also faces three charges of committing an indecent act on a young person aged 12 to 15, and one of grooming. All are representative and carry a seven-year maximum sentence.
It’s alleged the offending involving the initial complainant occurred in Auckland between January 2017 and January 2021.
It can now be revealed that Johnston has also been charged with sexual connection with a young person, who was 13, and two charges of committing indecent acts on two underage teenage girls, one 14 and one 15.
Police allege that offending occurred between 2014 and 2018.
Sexual connection with a young person carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, the indecent act charges carry a maximum of seven years.
Johnston first appeared on the new charges in December in the North Shore District Court, but could not be named at that time due to legal reasons.
He appeared again on Wednesday in the Auckland District Court before Judge Kevin Glubb where the two sets of charges were joined, meaning he can now be identified in relation to both sets of alleged offending.
An application for interim suppression was also abandoned.
Johnston wore blue jeans and a tucked-in collared shirt. He was supported by his parents who sat in the public gallery.
Judge Glubb thanked them for coming to support their son.
“We all need people in our corner when things are tough.”
Johnston, who was remanded on bail, denies the allegations and is set to defend the charges in July next year. He has elected trial by jury.
Johnston has performed internationally and spent years teaching child performers.
He previously worked at the National Youth Theatre. According to one theatre page, he made his professional debut in 2017 in a production of Puff the Magic Dragon. His other credits include City of 100 Lovers and Cats.
The theatre organisation said last year it had “rigorous policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students”.
“We want to be clear these charges do not relate to his time employed by our organisation.”
There is no suggestion the alleged abuse occurred at the organisation or that the theatre group was aware of the alleged activity.
In a statement after he lost name suppression last year, Johnston said he was “devastated, deeply shaken and utterly shocked”.
He told the Herald he would take every step necessary, through the proper legal process, to clear his name.
“I understand the public may be interested in this matter, but, as it is now part of a legal process, I cannot make any further comment,” he said at the time.
At a hearing in July, defence lawyer Sumudu Thode argued Johnston should be granted name suppression as he had already suffered significant consequences.
Thode alleged that opportunities for him had been cancelled and others he had decided not to pursue.
Thode said Johnston had also suffered psychological and personal consequences.
If his suppression was not continued, Thode argued there would be virtually “no prospect” of him recovering from the reputational damage.
She also said there was a risk his fair trial rights would be prejudiced and his family would suffer extreme hardship.
Prosecutor Emma Kerr said the application for name suppression did not reach the threshold to be granted, nor was there a risk to his fair trial rights.
Kerr said the charges were serious, the conduct alleged was not “fleeting” and naming him was in the public interest.
Judge Simon Lance ruled the threshold for extreme hardship had not been met.
“I concur with the prosecution’s submission that in this case open justice should not yield.”
He said Johnston had not provided any evidence that his existing contracts or opportunities would be terminated if he was named.
Judge Lance did not accept there was a real risk to Johnston’s fair trial rights.
Lane Nichols is Auckland desk editor for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry.
Katie Harris is an Auckland-based journalist who covers issues such as sexual assault, workplace misconduct, media, crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2020.
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