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

© Scoop Media