Scott Jason Guyton, 38, from Dunedin was today sentenced in the Oamaru District Court to seven months home detention and 250 hours community work for knowingly possessing and distributing child sex abuse materials. Despite the defendant’s opposition, the Judge ordered that Mr Guyton be placed on the Child Sex Offender Register.

Mr Guyton was charged with two counts of knowingly possessing objectionable material and two counts of knowingly distributing objectionable material, in the context of promoting child sex abuse and exploitation.

The offender used an online platform to view and distribute images of child sexual abuse. This illegal online activity alerted the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children who referred the case to the Department of Internal Affairs after identifying the activity came from New Zealand.

Tim Houston, Manager of the Department Censorship Unit says, “child sexual abuse imagery is not a victimless crime, it involves real children forced into sexual acts.”

“The Department has a dedicated team of investigators who work with global authorities, as well as New Zealand Police and New Zealand Customs, to identify this sort of illegal online activity.

“Law enforcement authorities are focused in their efforts to bring to justice those who view, share and create child sex abuse and exploitation material”, says Mr Houston.

If you are concerned that something you have seen may be objectionable or want to report a crime, contact the Censorship team.

If you are the victim of a child abuse crime, visit the Child Abuse: Directory for information and support or Safe to Talk.

If you are concerned about someone else’s sexual behaviour, you should contact organisations such as Safe Network, WellStop and STOP, local treatment providers, or specialist therapists.

The Department of Internal Affairs uses the term child sexual abuse imagery. The term child pornography downplays child sexual abuse.

© Scoop Media