Newstalk ZB South Island news director Claire Sherwood joins Herald NOW for the latest on the regions biggest stories.
A Christchurch man has been jailed for more than five years for distributing and possessing objectionable images depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of babies and children, and creating adult bestiality material.
Alexandre Harpur, 55, pleaded guilty to 19 charges after authorities raided his home and found more than500 files depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) confirmed today that Harpur had previously been convicted on similar charges, as well as other more serious charges involving contact offending against children in 2011.
The agency’s Digital Child Exploitation Team began digging into Harpur’s offending in January this year after he began communicating online with a covert investigator.
“In various messages, he indicated he had a sexual interest in children, bestiality and incest,” the DIA said.
“Harpur subsequently distributed multiple objectionable publications to the COI.
“A search warrant was executed at his home in May of this year, where investigators located and seized multiple devices.
“Forensic analysis of the devices identified objectionable publications and records of disturbing and highly sexualised online chat conversations with other users.”
Authorities found several files on Alexandre Harpur's phone depicting child abuse and exploitation. Photo / 123rf
Investigators found 18 files on Harpur’s phone that involved child abuse or exploitation material depicting the sexual abuse of infant children under the age of 2.
“The offender was found in possession of 514 files depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children,” the spokesperson said.
“He knowingly distributed 172 of these to other offenders on several different online platforms. He also made five objectionable publications depicting adult bestiality. ”
Digital Child Exploitation team manager Tim Houston issued a strong warning for anyone offending in the same way.
“Anyone thinking of producing, accessing or sharing material that depicts the exploitation or abuse of children should be warned that they cannot hide behind online anonymity,” he said.
“We can and will use all resources at our disposal to identify you and put you before the courts.
“Despite spending time in prison for previous sexual offending against a child, this man has chosen to engage in illegal and extreme communication with others regarding the sexual exploitation and abuse of infants.
“At times, he has clearly led these communications and has shown a determined and sustained interest in physical child sexual abuse, and child sexual exploitation imagery”.
Investigators found more than 500 disturbing images on Harpur's computer. Both that device and his phone will be destroyed. Photo / Getty Images
Houston said the devices Harpur used to store and access the disturbing material would be destroyed.
Yesterday at the Christchurch District Court, Harpur was sentenced to five years and two months in prison.
An order was also made to add his name to the Child Sex Offender Register.
Houston said that in 2024, his team conducted 69 investigations into child exploitation and helped to safeguard 14 New Zealand children from harm.
Additionally, the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System blocked over one million attempts to access websites hosting child sexual abuse material.
