Sex abuse accused's details emerge

A Masterton man facing several historic sex charges involving children aged between 4 and 7 had his interim name suppression order lifted yesterday in Masterton District Court and was identified as 42-year-old Timothy Eric Blake.

During his last appearance in court on April 19 lawyer James Elliott, who previously represented the accused, asked the man's name be suppressed because the alleged victims were related to him.

During that hearing police did not oppose the application and it was subsequently approved to protect the identities of the complainants.

Blake, 42, is facing four charges of indecent assault and one of sexual violation involving a boy and a girl aged between 4 and 7 years old at the time.

The offending is alleged to have occurred in Masterton between July 26, 1993, and September 8, 1995.

Yesterday Sergeant Jodie Lawrence, prosecuting, told Judge Tom Broadmore that police would not support continued suppression of Blake's name.

She said she had been informed that the complainants did not want the interim name suppression order to continue and for that reason they were not in favour of it being retained.

After a short break, defence lawyer Jock Blathwayt said his client would not be seeking a continuation of the name suppression order.

"He says he has nothing to hide and he's an innocent man."

Judge Broadmore said he was not making an order for continued name suppression but Blake's existing bail conditions would continue.

Blake was remanded on bail and is due to appear again in Masterton District Court on June 10 for a plea evaluation conference.

The bail conditions include that the accused reside at a Masterton address, not be intoxicated in a public place and not have any unsupervised access to any person under the age of 16.