11.45am
An anti-child exploitation group is stunned that a man convicted of 30 child pornography-related charges escaped jail when he was sentenced yesterday.
Adam James Coombs, found guilty of 30 charges relating to possessing and trading child pornography, was sentenced in Palmerston North District Court to 240 hours of community work, fined $1300, and ordered to undergo nine months of supervision including counselling.
Denise Ritchie, national co-ordinator of Ecpat, a group fighting child pornography, said the judge could have sentenced Coombs to one year's jail per trading offence but did not use his power.
"We're not talking images of naked children, we are talking some of the most vile and serious sexual assaults on children and in some cases babies...
"He should have got a prison sentence."
Out of more than 450 investigations of New Zealanders trading in child pornography more than 100 were prosecuted but a jail sentenced was only imposed in four cases.
"The sentences are manifestly inadequate... it's repeated cases where judges are handing out very light sentences -- sentences that are manifestly inadequate.
"Imposing a custodial sentence is appropriate for the gravity of the offending but also to act as a deterrent to others.
"What kind of deterrent is a slap on the hand and a fine of $1300? Tomorrow they can just log back on and carry it on again."
Ecpat has been lobbying the government to increase penalties. Currently possession of child pornography attracts a maximum $2000 fine.
But judges were not using the power to imprison when they could, Ms Ritchie said.
In Britain, Canada and the United States child porn trading could be punished with at least 10 years' jail.
While crown prosecutor Mathew Downs, for the Department of Internal Affairs, had called for a jail term Judge Barry Lovegrove took into account Coombs' exposure to public scrutiny, his remorse and the effect of the huge embarrassment he faced.
Ms Ritchie said the effect on the children was much more severe than any effect on Coombs and research showed that when victims grew up the knowledge images of them being degrading were still in existence was harrowing.
"It's a permanent record ... That rape continues to be re-used by others many many times for their own sexual purposes.
"It's out there and they will never be able to get rid of it or erase it."
Ms Ritchie said the argument that the internet dealers and users were not committing the atrocities did not hold water.
"It's all about supply and demand... until we can eliminate demand we won't be able to protect children.
"The person who is actually raping the child for the express purpose of putting it on-line is only doing so because he knows there are people like Coombs out there that want to distribute it and trade it."
The market then fostered an escalation of the extremity of the acts depicted.
"It's not about money its about trading for worse images. It's a whole industry promoting and perpetuating sexual abuse of children."
- NZPA
Porn sentence shocks child safety group
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