Runaway pair: Man bailed

JULIE DAVIS: Found safe and well.

IAIN MCGREGOR/Waikato Times

THE MOTHER: Rosina Gibson, mother of 14-year-old Julie Davis.

Waikato Times

NON DESCRIPT: Craig Howard's caravan.

IAIN MCGREGOR/Waikato Times

ACCUSED: 41-year-old Craig Howard appearing in the Tauranga district court facing a charge relating to abducting 14-year-old Julie Davis, inset.

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The Waikato man charged with abducting Mt Maunganui College student Julie Davis entered no plea and was bailed to a Hamilton address when he appeared in Tauranga District Court this afternoon.

Craig Howard, 41, a former Waingaro Hot Springs employee and Julie Davis were found last night at hot pools in Rotorua after 12 days on the run.
 
In a hearing that lasted about three minutes, police did not object to bail, which had conditions that included a 7pm-7am curfew and also that Howard was not to meet with Davis or any member of her immediate family.
 
Howard is scheduled to reappear in Tauranga District Court on July 30.
 
 The pair were found after a tip-off from the public and the teenager, who police said was safe and well, was placed in emergency Child, Youth and Family (Cyf) care.

Howard has been charged with abducting a person under 16 years old.

Julie was found with Howard and was safe and well, Tauranga police Detective Constable Pete Sweeney said.

"She's okay ... No further comment will be made regarding Julie, who is regarded as a victim in this matter. Julie's family are grateful for all the assistance that has been given to the police to bring this matter to its conclusion."

The net started closing in on the pair after police found Howard's car in Rotorua yesterday morning. The pair were then spotted walking into Rotorua's city centre about 10am.

On Monday, police scaled up their investigation to an abduction and issued a warrant for Mr Howard's arrest.

Detective Senior Sergeant Rob Glencross, of Tauranga CIB, said Julie's family "very pleased and grateful for the help given by the public".

"Police will be working with the family and Cyf over the next few weeks to work out the best course of action from here," Mr Glencross said.

Mt Maunganui College assistant principal Tina Yule was unaware the pair had been found when contacted by the Waikato Times this morning but said Julie's parents would be "ecstatic" with the news.

"They will be over the moon. They will just want to spend some time with her."

Mrs Yule said she would now expect to see Julie when school resumed on Monday.

Back in Waingaro, one resident described Howard as being so polite he often left the impression of being "too nice".

The resident, who did not want to be identified, said: "It's like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth but it obviously sizzled. He was pleasant and would smile from ear to ear, not with big lips in fact he has very fine lips but he was too nice. He was greasy nice and a lot of people fell for it," she said.

Another local said it was not unusual for Howard to "disappear" for days at a time and he was very quiet.

"You'd be unlikely to get a conversation out of him."

He was not known to drink, but did smoke roll-your-own tobacco.

It is understood Howard, originally of Huntly, is the father of about seven children.

A man who saw him parked up outside the Waingaro Motel not in the Waingaro Hotel carpark as was previously reported last week with a young woman in the car assumed it was his daughter.

He was also sighted a fortnight ago with a young woman in his car about 12km along Ohautira Rd, to the west of Waingaro.

His curtained-off caravan nondescript apart from featuring a Sky digital dish and barbecue outside was one of half a dozen at the camping ground.

 Yesterday, Julie phoned broadcaster Michael Laws on Radio Live, saying she had run away with Howard because she "didn't want to be at home" but would return to her family today.

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