Indefinite jail considered for sex abuser

KENT BLECHYNDEN/FAIRFAX NZ

Aaron Laurence in Lower Hutt District Court.

Relevant offers

National News

Police officer accused of working with gang Crusaders make statement with big win Beckham the next Jordan? At least 60 hurt in US train crash America's Cup practice sailing put on hold Cannes red carpet fashion: Day three Man killed in house fire Police in long-distance pursuit Flush Kiwi charities failing to pay out Beyonce pregnant with second child?

Former art gallery owner Aaron Laurence is to be considered for an indefinite jail term for his long-term abuse of boys and posting images of their ordeals online.

Laurence, 39, is now convicted of 66 charges of unlawful sexual connection, doing indecent acts, indecent assault and the possession and making of objectionable material between 1999 and 2011 of at least eight victims.

He pleaded guilty today to three new charges of doing an indecent act on boys aged between 8 and 12.

Wellington District Court judge Ian Mill declined to sentence Laurence and said preventive detention should be considered because of the nature and extent of the offending.   He remanded him in custody to be sentenced at the High Court in April.

Laurence had abused at-risk boys across the lower North Island. More than 31,000 images or videos were found in his collection.

Laurence once owned an art gallery on Wellington's Lambton Quay, called the Aaron Laurence Gallery.

- © Fairfax NZ News