Man on trial for 50 historical child sex charges

The man pleaded not guilty to all charges on Tuesday.

The Crown has opened its case in a trial involving a man facing 50 historical child sexual abuse charges.

A three-week trial is under way at the High Court at Rotorua involving a 63-year-old former Bay of Plenty man, whose name is suppressed.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges on Tuesday.

Crown prosecutor Sharee Christensen told the jury yesterday they would hear from nine female complainants who alleged they were sexually assaulted to varying degrees by the man.

The complainants were between 5 and 16-years-old at the time of offending that allegedly occurred from the 1970s to the late 1980s. The charges include 28 counts of indecencies with a girl under the age of 12, 10 charges of indecencies with a girl between 12 and 16 and three charges of rape.

Ms Christensen said other witnesses to give evidence included current and retired police officers, family and friends of the complainants and a doctor, who will make general comment on the behaviour of children who were sexually assaulted.

"You are about to hear all about a defendant who had a trend to brazenly sexually offend against young girls and exert authority over them all for his own sexual gratification without fear, like he was entitled to do so," she said.

Defence counsel Tiffany Cooper asked the jury to keep an open mind while hearing the Crown's case. She reminded the jury that her client has denied all charges.