North Island man jailed over possession of child sexual abuse content

A man has been sentenced to four years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse content.
A man has been sentenced to four years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse content. Photo credit: Google Maps

A man has been sentenced to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 15 charges for creating, possessing and distributing videos and images depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

Foxton man Martin Pickering was sentenced in the Levin District Court on Tuesday after he was earlier charged by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). They found he had over 11,000 child sexual abuse and exploitation images and videos.

Pickering used various social media platforms to distribute the disturbing content. The victims were aged between 0 to 14 years old.

He also would view livestreams of children being abused and put together recordings of these.

DIA's Digital Child Exploitation team manager Tim Houston welcomed the sentence.

"Our priority is to ensure that anyone who distributes, makes and possesses objectionable material of child sexual abuse imagery are caught, prosecuted and sentenced."

Houston said people should not assume this sort of offending only happens online.

"Child sexual exploitation and abuse material depicts a crime scene and the worst moment in a child's life. DIA, NZ Police and the NZ Customs Service work tirelessly together to ensure children are not re-victimised by those seeking to derive sickening gratification from their suffering."

The Foxton man is required to register as a child sex offender.

If you are concerned that something you have seen may be objectionable or want to report a crime, you can report it to the Digital Child Exploitation team at DIA.

If you are the victim of a child abuse or sexual abuse crime:

Child Abuse: Directory for information and support

Safe to Talk: 0800 044 334, or text 4334.