Man fined for child pornography collection

A former computer systems administrator at Christchurch's College of Education has been fined $2200 for possessing more than 115,000 objectionable pornographic internet pictures and video files.

It is understood that John Louis Francis Schaper has moved to another job since Department of Internal Affairs officers executed a search warrant at his home and seized his computers in March 2004.

But when he pleaded guilty to 22 charges relating to objectionable publications in the Christchurch District Court yesterday, defence counsel Lee-Lee Heah said publication of his name would mean loss of his present job.

Judge Phillip Moran refused to continue the interim suppression.

A judge refused the order in the District Court in February, but Schaper appealed to the High Court and got it reinstated.

After a day-long hearing in which Judge Moran ruled that certain prosecution evidence was admissible, he admitted the charges.

The offending came to light after Schaper met a teenage girl and began sending her sexual material by email. As the material became more explicit, she laid a complaint.

Crown prosecutor Barnaby Hawes told the court that inspectors seized two computers, 98 CD-Rom disks and documentation from Schaper.

He said more than 115,000 pictures or video files which were believed to be objectionable were found among the material in Schaper's possession.

"They feature the sexual exploitation of children and young persons, and many of them depict sexual acts involving adult males and girls aged between six and twelve."

Schaper said he had been accessing pornography since 1999 and had "progressed" to material featuring young girls, often aged from 12 to 15 years. Some of the material found had been obtained the day before the search warrant was executed.

"Schaper stated that he knew his interest was 'wrong', adding that he had been to certain chat rooms where people discussed underage sex and he could 'feel normal'," said Mr Hawes.

"While he recognised that he had a problem, he had not sought professional help."

Judge Moran said the sheer volume of material that Schaper possessed was an aggravating factor.

He fined Schaper $100 on each charge, released him on supervision for a year and ordered him to take counselling and treatment as directed to address his addiction to pornography.

He also ordered the destruction of the objectionable material and forfeiture of the computer systems.

- NZPA