NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Man caught with more than 380,000 child porn images, videos saw youngsters as 'merely actors'

Anna Leask
By Anna Leask
Senior Journalist - crime and justice·NZ Herald·
14 Jan, 2019 10:28 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

A former teacher jailed after he was caught with 300,000 child sex images has revealed that finding new material was "a thrill" because "it was forbidden and against the law".

And he has now told the Parole Board that he did not consider his actions wrong at the time of the offending because he saw the children in the images as "merely actors".

In 2016 Donald Matthew Capon was sentenced to four years and six months in prison after being convicted on a raft of charges including possession of objectionable material, distribution of objectionable publications and importing prohibited goods.

At his sentencing the court heard that, following information from authorities in the United States, the Taranaki man was found with more than 380,000 images, 17,000 videos and 1600 files of children.

The children were either naked, partially naked or engaged in sexual acts in the videos and stills.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Capon was caught after he began sharing explicit images of children in an internet chat room in late 2015.

The Taranaki man was denied parole in January 2018 and again in December.

The Parole Board report following his hearing on December 11 has now been released.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Capon is now 53 and will remain in prison until at least his next parole hearing in March.

The board's December 11 report revealed that Capon had completed a child sex offender's programme behind bars.

He said he found the programme "difficult" but was "happy with the progress" he had made.

A report from a prison psychologist stated Capon had addressed his sexual offending and had "developed a robust safety plan".

Discover more

New Zealand|crime

How FBI uncovered Auckland politician's shameful sex secrets

18 Sep 12:39 AM
New Zealand

Former Akl politician jailed for streaming child sex shows

17 Sep 10:02 PM
World

Toddler freezes to death after escaping home at night

15 Jan 03:11 AM

"He is deemed at low risk of sexually reoffending," said Parole Board panel convenor Tania Williams-Blyth.

During the programme Capon addressed his "distorted thinking" about his offending.

"While he was offending he considered that the victims were merely actors," said Williams-Blyth.

"He realises that he was lying to himself and they were not actors.

"Lying to himself, he thought that merely watching videos was in no way as serious as those who committed the crimes.

"Seeing himself as merely a voyeur was a lie."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Williams-Blyth said the sentencing judge who dealt with Capon commented that the primary motivation for his offending was "the thrill of the new acquisition".

"This was discussed with Mr Capon.

"He acknowledged that finding new objectionable material was a thrill and this was more so because it was forbidden and against the law.

"Now he says he doesn't need the thrill because the medication he is on is managing the highs and lows that he has felt.

"He will continue to take his medication and will engage in other activities such as voluntary work, church and hospice activities."

Williams-Blyth said Capon had also "learned to identify high-risk areas and feelings" and how to manage them while in prison.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Two high-risk areas are not taking medication and not being busy," she explained.

"Two high-risk feelings were feeling worthless and high anxiety.

"The strategies to address these are to stay on his medication and to understand that the
feelings will not last, they will pass.

"He will also use distraction and diversion as strategies including his artwork and other creative activities."

Williams-Blyth said another high-risk situation for Capon was "not being employed or having no feeling of worth".

"If he is unable to engage in voluntary work then he will look at doing gardening, reading, building and walking," she said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"He would also like to engage with a psychologist in the community.

"If he can afford to pay for a psychologist then he will do that, alternatively he will engage
with one through the public health system.

"Talking to a psychologist will assist him to develop further strategies for when he is feeling down. It will also give him someone sensible to talk to."

Capon told the board that "overall he feels that he has learned a lot and that his attitude has changed for the better".

The board declined parole for the sex offender as he did not have appropriate accommodation approved for his release.

Williams-Blyth ordered Capon to be seen again for further consideration of parole by the end of March.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Night market horror: Two critically injured in serious incident, police hunt offender

21 Jun 08:09 AM
New Zealand

In the money: Two winners in tonight’s $30 million Powerball draw

21 Jun 08:02 AM
New Zealand

'Un-Kiwi' attitudes: Acting PM Seymour takes aim at Brian Tamaki after protest

21 Jun 05:30 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Night market horror: Two critically injured in serious incident, police hunt offender

Night market horror: Two critically injured in serious incident, police hunt offender

21 Jun 08:09 AM

Police say they are following lines of inquiry to catch the offender.

In the money: Two winners in tonight’s $30 million Powerball draw

In the money: Two winners in tonight’s $30 million Powerball draw

21 Jun 08:02 AM
'Un-Kiwi' attitudes: Acting PM Seymour takes aim at Brian Tamaki after protest

'Un-Kiwi' attitudes: Acting PM Seymour takes aim at Brian Tamaki after protest

21 Jun 05:30 AM
Man arrested over violent Auckland crime spree

Man arrested over violent Auckland crime spree

21 Jun 05:04 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP