At the time of the offending, the man was subject to an extended supervision order with conditions including that he not associate with anyone under 16 or have internet-capable devices.
Judge Hollister-Jones said Newton was aware of the man’s background and supervision conditions.
They lived separately in the Waikato area.
Newton’s offending was discovered after the man breached the conditions of his extended supervision order, and subsequently, communications on Snapchat between them were discovered.
In court, Judge Hollister-Jones detailed the images, taken between April and June 2022, saying Newton zoomed her camera in on certain naked body parts of the child and sent the images to the man.
She also put the child in sexually explicit poses while the child was drinking from a bottle and took photos and videos, before sending them via Snapchat.
Newton was naked from the waist down in some images, and also sent photographs of her own private parts.
Newton committed sexual violation and indecent assault in the process of taking the photographs and videos.
Crown prosecutor Anna McConachy said Newton prioritised communication with the man over her care for the child.
McConachy said Newton knew he was not allowed to have an internet-capable device, yet she was sending him photos of children in sexual poses.
Newton’s lawyer, Rachel Raukawa, detailed Newton’s mental health conditions, including symptoms consistent with borderline personality disorder.
Judge Hollister-Jones said it was highly likely the child would find out in later years what happened to them.
Raukawa conceded there would be a significant psychological impact if that happened, but pointed out the child would not have a memory of the specific events.
She said Newton was groomed by the man to do what she did.
“She was under his thumb.”
The Crown suggested a sentencing starting point of 10 years and six months in jail, while Raukawa’s starting point was between three and four years.
Judge Hollister Jones said the child was dependent on Newton for her care and protection, which made her culpability higher.
He described her as being a “poor historian” and having a propensity to exaggerate and fabricate events, and he noted there were five examples in the reports where her version of events differed from those of authority.
He sentenced Newton to seven years and three months in jail.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
