Some of the objectionable material included altered characters from The Simpsons. Photo / File
Some of the objectionable material included altered characters from The Simpsons. Photo / File
An Englishman now working for a telecommunications business in Auckland was caught by a colleague with unsavoury images on a company computer, including images of Simpsons characters.
David Woodward, 36, was sentenced to six months' community detention and intensive supervision today in the Auckland District Court on 14 counts of possessing objectionable material.
Judge Anne Kiernan said the offending dated back to November last year when Woodward had left his laptop open at work.
A colleague of his walked past and noticed the incriminating images on the screen, which included young females, the judge said.
Woodward's management was alerted and further files of a similar nature were found on the computer. The laptop was then handed over to the police's Electronic Crime Lab.
Judge Kiernan was reluctant to read details of the offending in court, but said the particulars were mentioned in the charges and other court documents.
The charges outlined that the objectionable material included Bart and Lisa Simpson, girls, and animals.
David Woodward was found to have objectionable material on his work laptop. Photo / Facebook
The court heard that Woodward has taken steps to address his pornography addiction which developed when he was younger.
When he was given his work laptop he was "using it to watch pornography every day" and it "got out of control", the court heard.
He lost his job as a result of his offending but has since been hired by Vodafone in Auckland, where he was issued a work phone, the court heard.
According to Woodward's social media profile he works as a customer service representative at Vodafone.
However, a Vodafone NZ spokeswoman said it was the company's understanding that Woodward is an employee of Digital Mobile and would not comment further.
Digital Mobile is one of the owner-operators of Vodafone's retail stores in New Zealand, but is a separate business, she said.
Digital Mobile has been approached for comment.
"Given that you work in an industry where electronic devices are necessary for your employment ... I find it difficult to impose a condition where you would be forced to [not use electronic devices]," Judge Kiernan said.
Woodward's personal laptop, which was seized by police, will be returned.
Woodward, who moved to New Zealand from England in 2014, has also attended counselling for his addiction.
But, the court heard, that Woodward's relationship with his wife was "well and truly over" while the charges he faced were "hanging over his head".
