Former coach charged with sex offences named

A former Auckland rugby league and softball coach charged with 26 sexual assault offences against three boys under 16 has been named as Neville Ernest Hearling.

The 75-year-old appeared in the Wanganui District Court yesterday. The offending allegedly occurred in Auckland in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Judge Michael Radford granted a police request that the case be referred to the district court in Auckland on the grounds that the alleged offences took place there and a large number of more than 20 witnesses live there.