University graduate and former school computer-use monitor Andrew James Hancock faces fines and court costs totalling $17,100 after being sentenced in the Napier District Court on computer-pornography charges stemming from a major international crackdown earlier this year.
Hancock, 23, had previously pleaded guilty to 29 charges of importing objectionable publications on
his home computer and 16 of making copies for distribution.
Judge Richard Watson was told possibly more than 50,000 images and movies of an objectionable nature had been discovered on Hancock's computers.
He ordered Hancock to pay fines of $250 and court costs of $130 on each of the charges, which were described as "representative" of what had taken place.
The court was told he had lost his job because of the offending which was uncovered in Operation Tercel, initiated when authorities in the United States set up an operation to disrupt activities involving child pornography.
He had been employed at St John's College, Hastings. The inquiry identified people around the world who had accessed images as subscribers with an American business unveiled as a clearing-house for people paying by credit card.
Hancock was one of several New Zealanders identified, and had subscribed in May 2003, for 61 days.
His home was searched on February 20 this year and six computer drives and removable media were taken for examination.
According to the Crown summary, the volume of material meant a forensic analyst only scanned the files, but most of the objectionable images and movies were of young boys and girls, mainly about 10 to 14 years old but some as young as five.
It was established that on September 5, Hancock distributed a number of images via the internet to another person in the United States, forwarding them on 18 separate occasions on the one night.
Defence counsel Leo Lafferty said Hancock acknowledged an addiction to the internet which had gone too far.
Counselling, which he had obtained and for which he was paying, had given him an "insight" into his behaviour.
He was remorseful and had lost his employment in the face of strong references about his abilities.
Crown prosecutor Russell Collins acknowledged the favourable reports, but said: "The offending itself is extremely grubby."
Of the other New Zealanders charged in Operation Tercel - more than 40 arrests were reported throughout the country - only two had received prison sentences, Mr Collins said.
The judge said the most aggravating factor was that Hancock's action effectively supported those who exploited children for profit.
He said he had "a good mind" to send Hancock to prison, not so much as his own penalty but to get the message across about what he had called "the disgraceful trade" in child pornography.
