A Waikato man has been jailed for three years after being found guilty of distributing “objectionable materials” on social media.
The 36-year-old was sentenced in the Hamilton District Court today after being convicted on 11 charges of possessing, exporting and making child sexual abuse material, Customs said.
An investigation was launched after Customs received a referral from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a New Zealander had allegedly distributed objectionable materials to six social media platforms.
A search was carried out at the man’s home in the Waipa District on May 16 last year. Three devices linked to the man’s social media accounts were found to contain child sexual abuse materials.
He was arrested at the scene.
Further examination of the devices by Customs forensics experts uncovered more child sexual abuse material which had been viewed, stored and distributed. Evidence was also uncovered that the man was screen-recording the objectionable material he was viewing on social media, Customs said.
“Several of these screen-records were of one female child, who was 10 years old at the time the materials were created. Customs investigators identified the child as living in the United States and referred the case to local Kentucky authorities, who were able to safeguard the girl several days later in June 2023.”
Chief Customs officer child exploitation operations Team Simon Peterson welcomed the sentencing.
“This is not a victimless crime. Real children are abused in making of this type of material, which often will remain online forever. In this case, Customs was able to help safeguard one of those victims in the United States,” Peterson said.
“We operate as part of a global taskforce and our top priority is always to try to identify and protect or safeguard any victims, wherever they are in the world.”
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.