Jailed for child sex abuse images

A 38-year-old Whangarei mechanic was yesterday jailed for two years and two months for possessing and distributing images of children being sexually abused.

Stephen William Shaw of Kamo was sentenced in Whangarei District Court after pleading guilty to 19 charges of possessing and two of distributing objectionable publications.

Last week in the Dargaville District Court, Stephen Tamatea King, 57, of Waipoua, pleaded guilty to 34 charges of possessing objectionable material and received four months’ community detention and 200 hours’ community work.

Internal Affairs Deputy Secretary, Keith Manch, said the Department has referred the King case to the Solicitor General to consider an appeal over the sentence.

Both cases resulted from investigations by the Department. Shaw was located after a censorship inspector discovered him on the Internet offering an objectionable movie involving two naked 10-12 year old girls. The Department seized five computers and accessories from his work and home. King was tracked down through payments he made to an international child sexual abuse website.

“These cases are further examples of how the Department monitors certain activity on the Internet and works with other international teams to track down people who trade in this material,” Keith Manch said. “No matter what you do, everything’s traceable on your computer. No matter how long it takes, you will be caught, brought before the courts and punished.”