Computer repair man's offending 'disturbing and sinister'

PHIL REID/The Dominion Post

GUILTY PLEA: Ian Mead in Porirua District Court in January.

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A Kapiti Coast computer repairer who stole images of naked children from unsuspecting clients has gone to jail for 2 ½ years.

Ian Mead, 47, originally of Raumati but now living in Hastings, was sentenced in Wellington District Court this morning.

He earlier pleaded guilty to 50 charges of having objectionable publications for supply or distribution, having objectionable material, and accessing multiple computers dishonestly.

Wellington District Court Judge Bruce Davidson said there was a "disturbing and sinister complexion" to his offending, even though Mead had given assurances none of the material had gone on to the internet.

He said Mead had grossly violated the privacy of his clients.

The judge said he had "almost recoiled instantly" when he saw some of the images for himself.

Mead started his Raumati PC Challenge business in 2004. He copied innocent family records - including pictures of naked children and childbirth - from customers' computers, and also accumulated a digital stash of hardcore child pornography showing sexual abuse of children, including bestiality.

Police said Mead belonged to an international group of child pornographers.

Mead's lawyer Gary Turkington said today that Mead wanted to go to great pains to assure the public the images were never distributed beyond a network of like-minded people, and had not gone international.

- © Fairfax NZ News