Repeat offender found with 15,000 child exploitation images jailed

An Auckland man has been jailed for distributing and possessing child exploitation material.

Mark Wayne Price was sentenced to 30 months in prison in the Papakura District Court on July 10 after facing a total of 41 charges following an investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).

It marked the 44-year-old's second conviction for such offences. In March 2015, Price was sentenced to nine months of home detention for possessing and distributing objectionable publications.

During the latest investigation, investigators from the DIA digital child exploitation team found 15,983 images and videos of child exploitation across multiple devices.

It said forensic analysis of the devices revealed price knowingly shared over 800 files of child exploitation and abuse material with 28 others.

"Victims depicted in the material ranged from infants to young children."

Manager of the digital child exploitation team Tim Houston emphasised the gravity of the offences.

"This case highlights the severe impact of child sexual exploitation and abuse material. Possessing and sharing this illegal content causes lasting harm and perpetuates the exploitation of vulnerable children.

"The Department is committed to stopping the spread of this material and holding offenders like Price fully accountable in court. Protecting our communities and ensuring children’s safety will always be our top priority."

The DIA said as part of sentencing, Price will be put on the child sex offenders registry.

"The Department’s Digital Child Exploitation Team is committed to combating online harm and preventing the spread of child sexual exploitation material.

"In 2024, the Digital Child Exploitation Team conducted 69 investigations into child exploitation and helped to safeguard 14 New Zealand children from harm. Additionally, the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System blocked over one million attempts to access websites hosting child sexual abuse material."