An Auckland man has been jailed after police found more than 64,000 photos and videos in his possession of sexual violence and abuse towards children and babies.
Warning: This article contains details which may be disturbing to some readers
Reopoamo Darklie Tufuga, 27, initially denied his offending, but changed his plea to guilty in light of what police called "overwhelming" evidence.
He was sentenced on two charges of distribution and possession of objectionable material depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children in the Auckland District Court to 35 months in prison.
An investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs' digital child exploitation team led to a search warrant being carried out at Tufuga's home in 2023.
Several electronic devices were seized about found to contain 64,157 images and video files, which included the rape and torture of babies and very young children, as well as adult bestiality and necrophilia.
Tufuga has also distributed at least 17,924 files depicting child sexual exploitation to three other people.
Digital child exploitation team manager Tim Houston said he hoped the investigation had led to justice.
"The vast number of objectionable files in the offender’s possession is deeply disturbing. It is crucial that he has been brought to justice and prevented from causing any further harm," he said.
"Distributing child sexual abuse material and interacting with other offenders cultivates dangerous behaviours and increases the risk of physical harm to children."
Judge Belinda Sellars KC also ordered Tufuga be registered as a child sex offender and for the devices to be destroyed.
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