The identity of a man who succumbed to his “sexual feelings” and assaulted a foreign student in a public toilet can now be revealed.

Palmerston North caregiver Pounani Tahore, 46, had previously been granted interim name suppression after he admitted a male assaults female charge.

But in Palmerston North District Court yesterday, Judge Gerard Lynch said there was no reason to keep Tahore's name secret.

He was to be sentenced for the assault, but Judge Lynch postponed this until next month to allow Tahore to undergo a mental health assessment.

On May 30 Tahore followed a Korean exchange student into the women's toilets at the Downtown Shopping Centre in Palmerston North.

He approached the victim from behind and wrapped his arms around her in a “bear hug”.

“He tried to pull her into a toilet cubicle. The victim struggled with Tahore and managed to get to the bathroom door,” Judge Lynch said.

The victim managed to open the door and scream for help. Tahore loosened his grip and the woman ran away. Tahore was found a few hours later and told police he was acting on his “sexual feelings”.

Defence lawyer Richard Bedford made an unsuccessful application for Tahore's bail to continue, but Judge Lynch declined, saying a pre-sentence report raised some “troubling matters”.

Tahore has admitted experiencing regular sexual thoughts, especially when he sees a female in public. He was also hearing voices that others could not hear. The voices told him to commit his offences.

- © Fairfax NZ News