An Auckland man has been jailed for three years and seven months after admitting to possessing nearly 9000 images and videos involving child sexual exploitation.
Content warning: This story discusses child sex abuse
The case involved material of adults sexually abusing babies and children.
Todd Keith Laurance Dale Williams of Remuera has been sentenced after pleading guilty to four charges related to knowingly possessing child sexual exploitation material, according to a Department of Internal Affairs spokesperson.
The 30-year-old became a "person of interest" in authorities' investigations in early 2023.
"The investigation surrounded the sale of child sexual exploitation material through an online social media application."
Investigators also received a report "relating to an objectionable video being uploaded to a social media app, the account which uploaded the file was attributed to Williams".
"The 8928 images found in the offenders’ possession, across multiple devices and accounts, included photographs and videos featuring adults sexually abusing babies and children," the spokesperson said.
"A further 3103 files were found but are not subject to the charges as the age of the victims was difficult to determine."
The investigation involved both local authorities and an "international law enforcement agency".
The devices used to store and access child sexual exploitation material will be destroyed by order of the judge. Williams would be required to register as a child sex offender.
Internal Affairs' Tim Houston said authorities worked "to identify and prosecute New Zealanders who trade objectionable material to ensure children are not revictimised by those seeking to derive sickening gratification from their suffering".
"People who download this material are perpetuating its creation and the crimes committed against these children. Every image and video possessed by this offender depicts a crime scene, and the worst moment in a child’s life," he said.
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