Five young men with links to Opotiki College have appeared in court charged with sex offences against underage girls.
The five, all now aged 18, appeared before a registrar at the Opotiki District Court this morning, charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a young person under 16 this year.
As the accused entered the court house there was vocal support from family members who repeatedly jeered and cursed at media to leave.
Inside the packed courtroom, the registrar granted the five interim name suppression.
The charges relate to five girls, four aged 14 and the other 15 years old.
Police have previously said there is nothing to suggest anything happened at the college or involved any staff.
The accused have been remanded on bail to reappear in court on 17 December.
