A Dunedin process worker distributed almost 2500 child sexual abuse images to a group of paedophiles in the four years from April 2011, the Dunedin District Court heard yesterday.
Raymond Garry Westeneng, 50, told police he had to possess then distribute the objectionable publications to gain credibility within the group of paedophiles so he could increase his own collection for his viewing pleasure.
Westeneng admitted 30 charges under the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act - 28 of possessing child-specific child pornography images, and two representative charges of distributing such images and possessing them for the purpose of distribution.
He was convicted and remanded in custody, by consent, for sentence in December.
The summary from prosecutor Acting Sergeant Adrian Cheyne said Westeneng accessed internet chatrooms about twice a week during the past four years.