CYF carer admits child sex abuse

A Child, Youth and Family caregiver has admitted abusing children placed in his care by the Government agency.

Stephen Thomas Clode took photos of the children naked and made movies of them being abused. Some of the video clips were sent out by email.

CYF placed two girls aged 10 and 8 and a boy aged 4 into Clode's care last year despite warnings from a priest and one of the children's teachers that he was not a suitable caregiver.

CYF said it was still investigating the case within the terms of an internal audit of all caregivers.

The inquiry was ordered four months ago by the minister responsible for the agency, Ruth Dyson, and a report is due early next month.

Clode pleaded guilty in the Pukekohe District Court this month to three charges of indecently assaulting the 10-year-old girl and possessing pornographic images of children and of bestiality.

He also admitted making videos of the children in his care and distributing the video images over the internet.

Police investigated after a complaint of indecent assault by a young woman not connected to the children.

The teenager told police of finding pornographic images of the 10-year-old on Clode's computer and seeing him with the girl on his knee.

A search of Clode's computer found 16,014 photographs, including child pornography and bestiality, and 38 movie files included video clips of the girls and the boy in his care naked in a shower.

Police said two movie files had been made available to an email address.

Clode admitted downloading the pornography. He also admitted making the videos.

"[He] offered no explanation of having the video clips or downloading the items on to his computer," police said.

He will be sentenced next month.