A Rotorua man accused of possessing child pornography is the former manager of Rotorua St John Ambulance. Robin Thomas Andrew, 61, who now lives in Pukehina, appeared briefly before a registrar in the Rotorua District Court yesterday and did not enter pleas to 13 charges of possessing child pornography and
images of bestiality. Andrew worked for Rotorua St John Ambulance for 33 years but his former employer said there was no link between the allegations and his roles with the organisation. The pornography allegedly found at Andrew's home included movies and pictures of sexual activity between children and adults and children, children in sexual poses and bestiality. There were also computer text files with stories of paedophilia and incest. The pornography was allegedly found in Andrew's home on June 3. Rotorua police had been asked by overseas police to search his house as part of an international operation targeting child pornography. Andrew stood down as area manager in March last year and became an ambulance driver. In June Rotorua police allegedly found large amounts of child pornography on computers and stored on computer disks in a raid of his Rotorua home. Midland St John Ambulance regional chief executive Eddie Jackson said Andrew had since resigned and the allegations were nothing to with his previous employment with the organisation. ``We have not received any complaints from members of the public about him and we have no reason to be concerned about his interaction with patients during his time with us,' Mr Jackson said. He said he wanted to assure the public his organisation had robust policies in place to ensure the welfare of its staff, volunteers and the public. ``We view our responsibilities very seriously.' As far as Mr Jackson was aware the police had not contacted his organisation. ``If they did we would obviously co-operate with them.' Andrew has been remanded to appear again in the Rotorua District Court on September 5 so he can speak to a lawyer.
