Upper Hutt man sentenced to 12 months home detention for possessing over 45,000 images & videos of child sexual exploitation & abuse
15 November 2024
Ronald Leonard Ford, 79, was sentenced to 12 months home detention in the Hutt Valley District Court, following an investigation by Te Tari Taiwhenua, Department of Internal Affairs’ Digital Child Exploitation Team.
Ford pleaded guilty to two representative charges related to the possession of objectionable material depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
The 79-year-old was found after uploading child sexual exploitation and abuse images to a visual search engine, in an effort to seek out similar illegal material.
After a search warrant was executed at his residence on 1 August 2023, Ford admitted to the offending whilst being interviewed. During the interview he stated his offending was “just amusement” and that he thought viewing the horrific sexual abuse of infants and children, was "fairly innocuous".
Forensic analysis of the nine USB drives and three computer hard drives seized during the search warrant, uncovered the offender had amassed over 45,000 child sexual exploitation images and videos. The victims included in the objectionable child sexual abuse material ranged from infants to children aged 15 years old. Many of the images included innocent children being subjected to cruel and demeaning sexual abuse including being bound and gagged.
Judge Wills also ordered Ford to be registered as a child sex offender and for all electronic devices used during the offending to be destroyed.
“Offending like this is not innocuous at all. Sharing child sexual abuse material and connecting with other offenders fosters dangerous behaviours and increases the risk of children being physically harmed.” Says Tim Houston, Manager Digital Child Exploitation Team.
“Investigations that result in holding offenders accountable help protect and safeguard the most vulnerable in our society from harm.”
“For those who may be at risk of committing sexual online offences, I urge you for yourself, those around you and the victims, please immediately seek the confidential help that is available.”
“Anyone who distributes, makes, or possesses this despicable illegal material will be fully held to account in the court of law, it’ll just be a matter of time until you are caught.”
-ENDS-
About Department of Internal Affairs’ Digital Child Exploitation Team
DIA’s DCET is committed to keeping New Zealanders safe from online harm by responding to and preventing the spread of child sexual exploitation material online.
In 2023, DCET undertook 47 investigations into child exploitation, resulting in the discovery of almost 3 million pieces of illegal material possessed by New Zealanders. This is in addition to the over 1 million attempts to access websites hosting child sexual abuse material that were blocked by the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System.
Help and support
We encourage parents and caregivers to talk to their Tamariki about their online activities. Advice and support for parents and caregivers about how they can keep their children safe online can be found at KeepItRealOnline.govt.nz.
If you are concerned about something you have seen or want to report a crime, please report it to the Digital Child Exploitation Team at DIA. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 111.
If you are the victim of a child abuse or sexual abuse crime, you can contact:
- https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/child-abuse-directory-information-and-support
- Safe to Talk: 0800 044 334 Text 4334
If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s sexual behaviour, please reach out for support:
Safe Network: 09 377 9898
WellStop: 04 566 4745
STOP: 03 353 0257
