Child pornographer granted home detention

A Christchurch child pornographer was today granted home detention despite the Department of Internal Affairs saying it was an inappropriate sentence.

Christchurch District Court Judge Phillip Moran said Criss Robert Outram's "shame, embarrassment, and humiliation" was palpable and he had already suffered loss and punishment.

His sons had left home and he had lost his job as a retail salesman.

Judge Moran sentenced Outram to nine months home detention, plus 200 hours of community work with special conditions that he complete counselling and treatment as directed, and barred him from having internet access for the period of the sentence.

Outram admitted possessing child porn on his computer.

The court was told that he was found to have more than 1000 objectionable files on his computer systems, memory stick, and on hundreds of discs. He admitted viewing the material over 10 years.

Judge Moran described the files as "graphic, disturbing, and repugnant".

They showed child exploitation of the worst kind. That included images of penetrative sex - and one of bestiality - involving young girls, toddlers, and babies.

Defence counsel Simon Shamy said Outram was already attending a STOP programme for sex offenders and it was the kind of case where home detention would be suitable.

Crown prosecutor Sara Jamieson said the view of the Department of Internal Affairs - which brought the prosecution - was that home detention was not an appropriate sentence.

Judge Moran said that a Court of Appeal decision stated that home detention was seen as providing a real alternative to imprisonment, and a home detention term was consistent with the principles of sentencing in this case.

He was required to impose a sentence that was the least restrictive in the circumstances.

Outram had had the prosecution hanging over him for two years since the search warrant was executed at his home. There had been no hint of further trouble from him during that time.

The judge ordered that the objectionable material be destroyed.

He declined to impose a condition that Outram have no contact with young people but he said restrictions could be imposed by his supervising probation officer as required.

- NZPA