A Rotorua man has been sentenced for "simply bizarre" offending, that included online chats about his sexual acts with animals.
The 61-year-old, who has permanent name suppression, was sentenced to four months' home detention in the Rotorua District Court yesterday, after previously pleading guilty to two charges of knowingly making objectionable material.
According to the police summary of facts, the man accessed various websites where people "of a similar mind" left their Skype user names, before instant messaging them and talking with them via web camera.
Between June 2013 and March 2014, he spoke to more than 60 people from around the world.
"The content of the conversations involved the defendant's penchant for engaging in sexual acts with animals, including dogs and chickens," the summary stated.
During the conversations, the man also claimed he had sexually abused children.
However, Judge James Weir said it appeared the man had fabricated engaging with children. Police approached those he claimed to have abused but none disclosed any offending against them.
Between September 2012 and May 2013, the man also made three offensive video files of himself and his dog.
Judge Weir noted how unusual the case was.
"The offending in this case is simply bizarre," he said.
The judge said the man became depressed after suffering personal and business problems.
"You became disconnected to the world you had been living in and turned to this type of offending."
Judge Weir said the offences involved a breach of trust and sexual wrongdoing.
The man's lawyer Greg Burt said the case was a difficult one.
"This is possibly the most difficult sentencing I've had to deal with in terms of the nature of it and the impact it's had on this family's union," he said.
In reaching the sentence, Judge Weir took into account factors including the man's guilty plea and his remorse.