Palmerston North artist denies historic sex crimes
A well-known signwriter and artist has been charged with sexual assault.
Colin Hoare, 70, is accused of unlawful sexual connection and the indecent assault of a young girl more than 25 years ago.
The maximum penalty for a such a charge is 20 years’ imprisonment.
Court documents allege he assaulted the child on two occasions when she was about 4 or 5 years old, and again when she was in her early teens.
In the Palmerston North District Court yesterday, Hoare denied all charges.
Defence lawyer Phillip Drummond told the court his client wanted to enter not guilty pleas and would elect trial by jury.
He said there were ongoing discussions with the Crown about other administrative matters too.
Judge Lance Rowe entered the pleas and remanded Hoare on bail to reappear for another hearing in May.
Name suppression was not sought for Hoare, who was a well-known painter on the Manawatū arts scene.
A business owner and signwriter too, Hoare told Stuff in an interview in 2018 he’d been painting for most of his life.
The self-taught impressionist artist was known for his portrait paintings and use of watercolours, and had a wall of paintings in Moxies Cafe on George St.
He said if someone famous came into the cafe, they got their photo taken and then staff would get him to paint the person’s portrait.
"Moxies has about 60 of my paintings.“
In 2021, Hoare made the news when a mural he made as a tribute for Jack Register was pulled down outside the Palmerston North City Library.
The mural was pulled down for some unknown reason, but it was later found and returned to the site.
He was also an artist in a 2022 Anzac exhibition at Square Edge.
One of his paintings was of a boy crossing the Poland border to flee the war in Ukraine, which he painted in protest of the conflict.
Hoare was set to next appear in the Palmerston North District Court on May 23.
Sexual violence: where to get help
▍ Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00.
▍ Victim Support 0800 842 846. ▍ Safetalk text 4334, phone 0800 044 334 webchat safetotalk.nz or email support@safetotalk.nz.
▍ The Harbour Online support and information for people affected by sexual abuse.
▍ Women’s Refuge 0800 733 843
▍ Male Survivors Aotearoa Helplines
across NZ(males only).
▍ If you or someone else is in immediate
danger, call 111.