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High profile Kaitaia man Daniel Taylor. - Source: ONE News -
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A man accused of multiple sex crimes against young boys has collapsed in court today.
Daniel Taylor, 33, a former caregiver for Child, Youth and Family and the vice president of the Kaitaia Business Association, collapsed at the Kaitaia District Court as he was standing to hear charges against him read out.
He was propped up in a chair and the judge continued onto the bail conditions.
However, Taylor started having what looked like seizures and had to be carried out for medical treatment. Court has been adjourned.
Taylor previously faced 16 charges of sexually abusing five boys ranging in age from 12 to over 16 over a period from 2007 until early 2011.
Police today laid more charges against the accused relating to an additional person, taking the total number of charges to 19.
Taylor's lawyer tried to play down the nature of the allegations saying the alleged victims had a culture of touching each other over the clothes and that the alleged offending was not of a violent nature.
He said one of the charges which describes the defendant licking a boy's stomach is the "type of action a mother might do a child" and said it could have been done in a playful way.
Prior to his collapse, large crowds gathered outside the court where Taylor and former deputy principal James Parker, who is also accused of sex crimes against children, were due to appear today.
The public gallery was full of family of the victims and people who knew the men.
The judge acknowledged that their appearances were not going to be easy for those in the gallery, but asked members of the public to act in a way that respects the integrity of the court.
Police say investigations are continuing and more charges could follow.
In a separate case former Kaitaia deputy principal Parker, who earlier pleaded guilty to multiple sex offences, against pupils will face more charges appeared in court today.
His sentencing was delayed until next year.