A Wairarapa man has been jailed to three years and four months’ imprisonment for the import, possession and distribution
of objectionable publications, which depict the sexual abuse of children. He was also convicted for making objectionable
publications, namely adult bestiality videos.
The 43-year-old defendant appeared at the Wellington District Court today (15 February). He arrived at Wellington
Airport in January 2023 from a holiday in the Philippines and questioning and a search by Customs officers detected
child sexual exploitation videos on his two phones.
A subsequent search warrant at the defendant’s Wairarapa home address by Customs’ investigators and electronic forensic
specialist uncovered further child sexual abuse videos on his laptop, hard drive and phone, as well as home-made adult
bestiality videos.
Chief Customs Officer - Child Exploitation Operations Team, Simon Peterson, says Customs was initially alerted to the
alleged offending by an overseas-based social media chat platform and the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children (NCMEC).
“Customs detected the man's offending on social media and arrested him on arrival into the country after a holiday,
catching him red-handed with child sexual exploitation videos on his phones. Further videos depicting abuse - many of
them considered to be the most extreme - were uncovered at his home.
“The children in these videos are real and likely to face life-long trauma after what they have gone through. They are
not only re-victimised every time someone watches their videos, but these videos also fuel a perpetual and increasing
demand for this type of crime.
“Today’s sentencing shows that Customs, along with our domestic and international partner agencies, will continue to
hold such offenders to account for their abhorrent actions,” Mr Peterson said.
If you have concerns or suspicions about someone who may be trading in, or producing child sexual abuse images or
videos, contact Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you are, or know of, someone who is at risk or being abused, contact the Police immediately.