Salesman fined over pictures of naked children

A salesman who admitted importing child pornography, including images of naked children as young as 6, was fined $9600 when he appeared in court yesterday.

Adrian Paul Ryan, 35, of Birkenhead, admitted 11 charges of importing an objectionable publication.

In the North Shore District Court, Judge Mark Perkins fined Ryan $700 and $130 court costs on each of the charges. He also ordered Ryan to pay $500 towards crown legal costs and to forfeit his computer. He said the problem of internet child pornography was helped by people like Ryan who spread the material.


"Without people like you then any business venture founded on this material would fail," said Judge Perkins, who said the images on Ryan's computer were "disgusting" and involved very young children.

"They are the victims in this kind of offending."

Ryan was caught in a nationwide operation run by police and Customs which followed up information from the United States which identified people who paid to access websites displaying child pornography. Customers would send their payment details and receive a membership account, including an account name and password to access the sites.

Ryan subscribed to a website for 72 days in March 2003, paying with his ANZ credit card through a separate website bill-paying service, according to a summary of facts.

In May that year he subscribed to a different website for 30 days and paid through the same service.

The Crown said most images on the websites exploited children or young persons for sexual purposes.

Ryan had told police he accessed sites that featured girls in a state of undress. He felt the age of the girls was between 8 and 9 years and up to 16, with most 13 to 16.

Ryan's computer was seized in February and a forensic examination found "a significant quantity" of images that involved children and young people.

Customs lawyer Joshua Shaw said Ryan had downloaded 63 objectionable images. He sought a fine of several thousand dollars.

Defence lawyer Jim Maddox said Ryan was very ashamed. He had been browsing websites when an email came through with "pop-ups" on his computer screen.

"To his eternal regret he went into this at a whim" and paid to access the website.

Ryan wanted the matter "cleared up" and to get on with his life.