15 December 2006
Child sex abuse pictures bring Christmas in prison
Two Christchurch men are the latest to be jailed for dealing in child sex abuse pictures. They bring to 13 the number of
offenders who have been sent to prison since Parliament, in February 2005, introduced tougher penalties under the Film,
Videos and Publications Classification Act.
Wayne John Franklin, aged 30, courier driver of Papanui was sentenced by Judge John Cadenhead in the Christchurch
District Court yesterday to nine months jail after pleading guilty to 16 charges of distributing and possessing
objectionable publications. Today Joshua Richard Watson, 21, a student also received a nine-month jail term from Judge
Michael Crosbie in the same court for making, distributing and possessing objectionable publications.
The Judges in their sentencing backed comments from counsel for the Department of Internal Affairs, Pip Currie, who said
the offences were serious and the images disturbing, sickening, and repugnant.
“They involve real children who will have been irreparably damaged,” Ms Currie said. “The children are victims of child
sexual abuse.”
Internal Affairs Deputy Secretary Keith Manch said Department Inspectors of Publications detected the two men making
computer files available on the Internet. They were tracked to their home addresses and their computers seized under
search warrants.
“As the judges acknowledged, the pictures these men were offering involve adults abusing real children and people who
download this material are perpetuating this nasty industry and the crimes committed against these young children,”
Keith Manch said. “Parliament sent a strong warning that our society will not tolerate this and offenders are now facing
much stronger consequences for indulging in this activity.”
ENDS