Child sex abuse images uncovered

31/10/2006

A Christchurch company director who tried to remove disturbing images of child sexual abuse from his computers was sentenced to nine months jail followed by six months supervision in the Christchurch District Court today.

The 41 year old man last week pleaded guilty to 11 charges of making, possessing and making available images of children and young persons being sexually abused.

Judge David Saunders granted he man leave to apply for home detention and deferred the sentence until the Parole Board hearing in December. He refused permanent name suppression.

The Department of Internal Affairs national manager of censorship compliance, Steve O’Brien, said inspectors found evidence on the accused's laptop and desktop computers that he had repeatedly downloaded and viewed disturbing images of children being sexually abused by adults. This was despite attempts having been made to remove them with a programme called Evidence Eliminator.

“The success of this prosecution is a further warning to offenders that we can track them down and get the necessary evidence, despite best efforts to conceal offending,” Steve O’Brien said.

The man joins a growing list of offenders who have been jailed since Parliament introduced tougher censorship penalties in February 2005.
Penalties for ‘making and distributing’ went from a maximum one year in jail to 10 years. Possession charges went from a maximum fine of $2000 to a maximum of five years in prison on each charge.

Ten offenders have now been sentenced to jail under the new regime.

Media Contact:
Trevor Henry, communications adviser, Department of Internal Affairs
04 495 7211; 0275 843 679