No release for man who wrote about desire to rape babies until he has undergone specialist treatment

Benjamin Whitcombe. Photo / Allied Press

A philosophy student who wrote online about his desire to rape babies will not be released from prison until he has undergone specialist treatment.

Benjamin Todd Whitcombe, 23, appeared before the Parole Board for the first time last month but was not expecting to be released, the report noted.

Whitcombe is likely to enter the Kia Marama child sex offender programme in September or December.

He was sentenced in the Dunedin District in September last year to three years' imprisonment on four charges of exporting objectionable publications and one each of importing, making, possessing and possessing objectionable publications for the purpose of supply.

Judge Kevin Phillips described the objectionable statements written online by Whitcombe as "unbelievably appalling".

The man set up an account on a microblogging social media website under the name "wanderingphilosopher", through which he claimed to be "into everything and anything twisted ... Looking forward to conversing with the like-minded sick freaks on here".

Over two years, Whitcombe was involved in 17 exchanges in which he expressed a desire to rape babies and discussed other objectionable matters.

Some conversations were so graphic, court documents had to be redacted.

An investigation by Customs showed Whitcombe had also downloaded child-abuse material at a North Dunedin address and his parents' home.

When his house was raided, he admitted he knew the files he had were "bad" and that he had used an app since he was 14 to communicate with people around the world.

The Parole Board noted Whitcombe had a hefty student loan, accumulated over four years of studying philosophy.

Whitcombe's pursuit of education had continued behind bars.

Panel convener Judge Neil MacLean said Whitcombe was now studying accounting and was undertaking some cooking lessons while at the Otago Corrections Facility.

Whitcombe will appear before the board again in September 2020.