Today in the Auckland District Court Glenn Roderick Holland, 67 was sentenced to three years in jail for being party to sexual conduct with a child outside of New Zealand and for being in possession of illegal child sex abuse images.

ECPAT Child Alert Director, Alan Bell says ”This is an important case for New Zealanders to take note of. This offender thought that by sexually abusing a child outside of New Zealand that he would be out of the reach of the law. He has now found out that this is not the case and this should send a strong message to other New Zealanders who may think they can go overseas and abuse children with impunity.”

Customs discovered child sex abuse photos on Holland’s computer and these were traced to Russia. A victim (who was seven years old at the time of the offence) and her Mother flew to New Zealand to give evidence.

ECPAT assisted in the introduction the legislation that provides for the prosecution of an offender either in his home country or in the country where the offence occurs. The legislation is not often used as it is difficult to get witnesses and evidence.

“We applaud the cooperation between various law enforcement agencies to bring this offender to justice” says Bell. “Our organisation is only too well aware of this type of activity and it is pleasing to see that the combined investigation and prosecution were successful. This demonstration of law enforcement spanning the globe should be a clear deterrent to those who choose to commit crimes of this nature whilst overseas.”

Holland has a history of convictions of a similar nature over a period of years. A professional photographer, he tried to justify his illegal actions by claiming they were of an ‘artistic’ nature.

ECPAT Child ALERT is a registered charitable trust working to prevent the sexual exploitation of children.

ENDS

© Scoop Media