Police say the sentencing of a child sex offender to preventive detention in Hamilton today should serve as a severe warning to others involved in that activity.
Bradford Pascoe, 38, of Te Awamutu was sentenced in the Hamilton High Court today to preventive detention for his part in an international internet child exploitation ring.
Waikato District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Chris Page, said the sentence showed that the most vulnerable victims do in fact have a voice.
"This man was arrested in Christchurch last July as a result of an investigation by Waikato police and the specialist Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand (OCEANZ) police unit. The case was linked to an investigation by Italian authorities the year before where offenders had used networks over the internet for obtaining and distributing child exploitation material," Mr Page said.
Pascoe was today sentenced on 70 charges including one of sexual violation, two counts of indecent assault on a boy, possessing and distributing objectionable material and firearms charges.
Mr Page said the successful prosecution showed the value of a combined police operation with international policing jurisdictions in tackling a global crime issue. It also sent a clear message to those targeting children and young people online.
"These and other arrests show that no matter where you may be in the world and no matter what steps you may take to try and disguise or obscure your identity or location, sooner or later we will find you."
Parents also needed to be aware of what their children were doing online. Parents and caregivers were entitled to know what their children were up to and guidelines should be set to ensure their online safety.
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