Arrest of Kiwi predator helps catch US child sex offender

Investigators used login details from the New Zealand man's computer to reach out to a Texan paedophile. Photo / iStock

The arrest of a Kiwi online predator helped authorities in the US nab a child sex offender.

Canterbury bartender Drew Webb was caught with a stash of child sex abuse images after the Department of Internal Affairs was tipped off in 2014, Fairfax reported.

The 20-year-old Hanmer man's laptop and phone were seized, and investigators used his login details to reach out to a Texan paedophile.

The information gathered led to the arrest of Houston man Jesus Laporte, 20, who was arrested and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child. He was found guilty and imprisoned for 60 years.

Webb was also imprisoned for his crimes. He was found guilty of charges relating to child sex abuse images and was sentenced in Christchurch District Court to six years in jail, Fairfax reported.

The court was told Webb's case had led to 17 child victims being identified and rescued. It also led to the arrests of 11 offenders, including parents, caregivers and a kindergarten teacher.