Home detention for Greymouth sign writer

A 40-year-old Greymouth man has been sentenced today to six months home detention after being found guilty of possessing child sexual abuse pictures.

Jason Mark Jacobs, 40, a sign writer from Cobden, was found guilty in Greymouth District Court in August on 28 charges of possessing objectionable publications. Judge John Strettell dismissed a charge of distribution because the picture in question had not been formally classified by the Censor’s Office.

Internal Affairs visited Jacobs’ home in August 2011 after he sent a picture, believed to be objectionable, to an under-cover officer whom he had befriended on Facebook. A search of computer equipment in Jacobs’ bedroom revealed a further 28 objectionable images.

Judge Strettell was satisfied that pseudonyms Jacobs used for emails on Facebook came from his Internet address and that the Department had proved the 28 possession charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Internal Affairs Community Safety Manager, Steve O’Brien, said people who trade this sort of material on the Internet should think again.

“We have dedicated inspectors with the expertise to catch offenders. No matter what you do, everything’s traceable on your computer. We have again demonstrated we can track down offenders and get the necessary evidence, despite best efforts to conceal offending.”

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