A Dunedin man with the intellectual function of a teenager has been jailed after downloading more than 800 child-exploitation files.
While in custody awaiting sentencing, Liam James Bryant, 24, refused visits from his mother and those who were trying to help him, the Dunedin District Court heard last week.
"His mother says ‘he will burn me out after a few months’," Judge Michael Turner said.
"It’s a tragic situation."
The defendant struggled with impulsivity, ADHD, attachment disorder and had a diminished capacity to weigh up risk and reward, the court heard.
"He is confused ... Mr Bryant does present as having a number of intellectual disabilities," counsel Brian Kilkelly said.
In May last year, Bryant was under the care of Mount Cargill Trust, a care service for people with intellectual disabilities.
He used his cellphone to access child exploitation material and shared it with two other users via Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
Two months later, police searched his belongings and found a further 20 images.
He told police how he had done it and "appeared to know what he was doing is wrong", court documents said.
On January 27, while on bail for this offending, Bryant entered the room of another resident and stole his cellphone from a desk.
When challenged by staff, the defendant admitted taking the phone for the purpose of accessing pornography.
A search of his room revealed two USB storage devices full of illicit material: 761 images and 46 video files.
Much of the material showed children as young as 6 being sexually abused.
"The seriousness of this offending must not be minimised ... Vulnerable children are being exploited for commercial gain," the judge said.
"Far from being repulsed and disgusted, it gratifies the sexual deviances of those who access it."
Judge Turner said digital technology had placed greater power in the hands of perpetrators of sexual abuse, and those who consume the material fuelled the demand.
The United Nations estimated that between 10,000 and 100,000 children per year were the victims of child exploitation networks.
The man was previously warned when he undertook similar offending in 2021 and the judge said he could not claim "good character".
"His time in custody has been quite difficult for him. He has made friends in there but he also has a number of people who aren’t too keen on him," Mr Kilkelly said.
Judge Turner said there were a "number of hurdles in the way of his release" and in the future, his internet access must be heavily restricted.
He was convicted of two counts of theft and three charges related to possessing and distributing objectionable material.
Bryant was sentenced to one year 10 months’ imprisonment and was added to the Child Sex Offender Register.
erin.cox@odt.co.nz , PIJF Court Reporter
