Man remanded for having sex with under-age boy prostitutes

Continued name suppression has been granted for a Christchurch man charged with using the sexual services of two under-age boy prostitutes.

The man's name and other identification details should remain suppressed until the depositions hearing on November 15, Judge Patricia Costigan decided at a pre-depositions conference in Christchurch District Court today.

The man had been granted interim suppression when he first appeared in court on April 11, with defence counsel Kerry Cook arguing that it should be granted because his client was alleging that one of the two boys had been blackmailing him.

He said the courts normally granted suppression to people who were victims of blackmail.

The suppression issue was argued at length for the first time today, before Judge Costigan.

The man is charged with "receiving commercial services" from the boys, aged 15 and 16, between October 2004 and March 2005.

- NZPA