From New Scotland Yard to Taneatua: three months jail in censorship case

16/3/2005

The Whakatane District Court today sentenced a Taneatua man, to three months jail on a total of 15 charges of collecting and distributing electronic pictures of young boys being sexually abused and posed.

In sentencing the man, Judge Moore said that the clang of prison gates needs to be heard throughout the community for such offending and the days of community based sentences for such crimes are gone. He also ordered forfeiture and destruction of the computer material seized.

Judge Moore said that he would have imposed six months jail but reduced the term because Eyre pleaded guilty and had become the subject of extensive publicity.

The Director of the Department of Internal Affairs’ Gaming and Censorship Regulation Group, Keith Manch, said that the case illustrates the importance of the constant flow of information between international agencies.

“Between formal intelligence reports sent from and to New Zealand, and informal contact with overseas agencies, contact is almost daily,” Mr Manch said. “It has to be. Offending using the Internet has meant law enforcement must be genuinely international.

”This case is a good example. We have provided a lot of information to the UK that authorities there have been able to use, and now this case began with information sent from the UK to us.”

In August 2003 New Scotland Yard Police began an investigation into people distributing child sex abuse images on the Internet.

On 23 November 2003 New Scotland Yard provided information to the Department that two of the electronic identities they had detected belonged to a New Zealander.

Department Inspectors investigated, identified the accused and tracked him to his home address in Taneatua. A search warrant was executed on 29 January 2004 and computer material was seized.

After the warrant had been executed he was interviewed and he admitted using the electronic identities detected by New Scotland Yard and that he had placed sex abuse images on the Internet.

The Department analysed his computer material and found 285 pictures of boys aged from eight to 15 being sexually abused or being sexually posed.

On 23 February 2005 he pleaded guilty to all charges, three relating to distribution of child sex abuse images and 12 relating to possession. The interim name suppression order he had previously been granted was then lifted.

The man is a sickness beneficiary. After interim name suppression was lifted it became apparent that he also drove a school bus. In some circumstances people can legitimately receive a benefit and also work some hours a week.

Mr Manch said that the school involved was understandably upset. The Department has subsequently explained the circumstances of the case to the principal and is confident that a similar situation will not occur in future.

“The result of this case is a successful prosecution that reinforces our warning to New Zealand offenders,” Mr Manch said. “If they choose to continue collecting and distributing child sex abuse images they will eventually be caught.

“It is not just the Department looking for them. It is an international effort, with overseas agencies working well together and frequently sharing information.”


Media contact

Keith Manch
Director Gaming and Censorship Regulation Phone 04 495 9449, Cellular 027 445 6420

Vince Cholewa
Communications Advisor Phone 04 495 9350, Cellular 027 272 4270