Name suppression and home detention for Manawatu sex offender send wrong message
The Kiwi Party
Press Release
8 February, 2010

The Kiwi Party joins with Stop Demand and other organisations in condemning the light sentence and permanent name suppression granted to the prominent Manawatu man who downloaded more than 300,000 pornographic images, many of young girls, said Robyn Jackson, who is the Kiwi Party's Waikato regional chair, and also a spokesperson for Voice Waikato.

"Such decisions send a message that crimes involving the sexual exploitation of young women and girls will not be treated seriously by the Courts," she said.

"This man is in fact a predator who contributed significantly to the victimisation of young girls, for his own gratification. That the victims were not New Zealanders is irrelevant.
The Courts should identify such offenders, to remove secrecy, deter others, and allow parents, caregivers and children to know who these people are.
"The resulting stress for the man's family would indeed be regrettable, but is the responsibility of the offender himself. The present decision is heartless toward the victims.

"One also wonders what this man might be doing during his home detention, if there are not effective measures taken to bar him from further offending," said Mrs Jackson.

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