Arrest after young girls shown indecent pictures on street

Arkley faces four charges of exhibiting objectionable publications to under-18s. Photo / File

A 43-year-old has been charged with approaching three girls on the street and showing them objectionable images.

Andrew Jonathan Arkley, 43, a physiotherapist from South Auckland, appeared at Manukau District Court last week.

Detective Senior Sergeant Aaron Proctor said Arkley was arrested at his Papatoetoe home on Saturday, May 26.

"It was reported that a male in a vehicle registered to him approached and showed objectionable images to three young girls between 7 and 10 years," he said. "Police executed a search warrant at Arkley's home address. During that search warrant a number of images were allegedly located.

"Analysis of these images have resulted in a number of charges being laid under the Films, Videos, Publications and Classifications Act," he said.

Arkley faces four charges of exhibiting objectionable publications to under-18s. He has been charged with making a bound folder containing objectionable photographs and 12 counts of possessing objectionable publications, namely videos containing images of children aged 5 to 12. The alleged victims were from Cambodia and Russia.

He is also charged with cultivating cannabis for supply after police allegedly uncovered a growing operation in his roof.

Arkley has also been charged with indecent assault on a girl under 12, three counts of sexual connection with a girl under 12 and doing an indecent act on a girl under 12.

The charges date from 2000 to 2004, and May this year.

He will reappear in the Manukau District Court on Wednesday.