- Southland man sentenced to home detention for making intimate recordings over five years.
- Victims’ bravery crucial in prosecuting the offender for his unlawful and harmful actions.
- Police urge families to discuss online safety and report any online offending incidents.
Southland Police have acknowledged the recent sentencing of a 54-year-old man who pleaded guilty to making numerous intimate visual recordings of several victims over a five-year period.
The man received a sentence of 10.5 months of home detention on 9 October. He was also ordered to pay $3000 as emotional harm compensation to each of his victims.
Detective Senior Sergeant Nicholas Leigh expressed his gratitude to the victims, highlighting the importance of their role in securing the conviction. “The bravery of the women who came forward to assist in the prosecution of this offender cannot be overstated,” he said.
While Police are satisfied with the guilty plea and the sentencing outcome, Detective Senior Sergeant Leigh pointed out that crimes involving intimate visual recordings, blackmail, and sextortion continue to be a widespread issue across New Zealand. “We often see younger victims being coerced into sharing photos or videos of themselves, their school friends or their family,” he added, stressing the potential long-term consequences. Offenders often use these images as blackmail, threatening to post them online or share them with those close to the victim.
In light of the growing concerns, Detective Senior Sergeant Leigh encouraged parents and caregivers to have open conversations with young people about online safety and to report any form of online exploitation. He advised, “It pays to be vigilant with people you don’t know – whether that’s meeting online or in person.”
He also urged the public to keep records of any suspicious online interactions. “Save any online chat, and immediately take screenshots. This is important for making a report to the Police, we need all the evidence that you can gather.”
Anyone wishing to report such offences is encouraged to contact Police on 105 or submit an online report through Netsafe at netsafe.org.nz/report