The Department of Internal Affairs

Department of Internal Affairs | Te Tari Taiwhenua

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Christchurch reoffender sentenced after joint child exploitation operation


30 June 2026

Glen Elwyn Connor, 34, of Linwood, was sentenced today (30 June 2026) at the Christchurch District Court to 13 years and 6 months imprisonment, with a minimum imprisonable period of 50%, following a joint investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs and New Zealand Police. He was previously convicted in 2012 for possessing objectionable material depicting child sexual exploitation.

The 34-year-old admitted guilt to 43 charges:

  • 5 counts of creating an objectional publication;
  • 7 counts of distributing over 8583 objectionable publications; and
  • 19 counts of possessing 14,797 objectionable publications.
  • 1 count of indecent act with a child under 12
  • 2 counts of indecent act with a young person under 16
  • 1 count of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection
  • 1 count of abduction for purposes of sexual connection
  • 1 count of indecent communication with a young person under 16
  • 1 count of meeting young person following sexual grooming
  • 1 count of conspiracy to blackmail
  • 4 counts of sexual connection with a child under 16

The investigation started after the Department’s Digital Child Exploitation Team (DCET) was provided with information from an international law enforcement agency about a cloud storage account based in New Zealand that had distributed child sexual exploitation material (CSEM).

DCET investigators subsequently linked Connor to the online account connected to the offending and in early April 2024, a search warrant was executed at the offender’s residence. During this search, investigators seized several devices for further examination.

In November 2024, while completing forensic analysis of the seized devices, DCET investigators were notified of an online account linked to Connor, that was responsible for uploading CSEM the month prior.

An additional search warrant was then executed on 12 December 2024 where further items belonging to the defendants were seized for examination and he was arrested.

Forensic examination of six devices uncovered extensive offending spanning close to a decade. Investigators found that Connor had created and operated multiple online accounts across a range of platforms to possess and distribute thousands of illegal images and videos.

Evidence showed that Connor had produced some material himself and whilst knowing he was under investigation, communicated with another online offender about targeting a young person. He sought to have the victim coerced into providing explicit material and shared their social media details to help the other user establish contact and attempt the offending.

The victims shown in the images were as young as 6 months old and ranged in age to teenagers. The callous nature of Connor’s offending included using the lock screen of one of his mobile phones to display child sexual abuse material. This meant that every time he unlocked the device, the image he would see before unlocking was the child sexual exploitation image.

“An offender, like Connor, who continues to exploit children despite facing previous consequences is showing deliberate, predatory behaviour and presents significant risk to our communities” says Tim Houston, Manager Digital Child Exploitation Team.

“We along with our partners, both here in New Zealand and overseas, are committed to working together to identify predators and hold them fully accountable for their heinous crimes against innocent children.”

Detective Sergeant Nick Adkins of the Canterbury Child Protection Team acknowledged the victims of Connor’s offending.

“The charges paint a disturbing picture and show the sheer scale of the offender’s actions, including serious physical sexual assaults involving young people.

“This was a comprehensive investigation between Police and the DIA. While no outcome will undo the damage this offender has done, we hope today’s sentence will help bring some closure to the victims.

“The offending was characterised by the targeting of some of our most vulnerable members of society, who have bravely proven their own strength by assisting us in holding the offender accountable.

“I would also like to acknowledge the Child Protection Team in Canterbury; its officers have worked relentlessly for justice in what has been a long and at times difficult investigation. They should all be proud.”

The devices used by Connor to access and distribute the child sexual exploitation material will be destroyed, by order of the Judge, and he will be registered on the Child Sex Offender Register.

In 2025, the Digital Child Exploitation team conducted 52 search warrants for offences relating to online child sexual exploitation and helped to safeguard 24 New Zealand children from harm. Additionally, the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System blocked close to 700,000 attempts to access websites hosting child sexual exploitation and abuse material.

ENDS

Support and Resources
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to engage with their tamariki about safe online practices. Guidance on protecting children online is available at KeepItRealOnline.govt.nz.
If you have concerns about potential online harm or wish to report a crime, contact the Digital Child Exploitation Team at DIA. For situations where abuse is occurring or a child is in immediate danger, contact the Police at 111.

If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s sexual behaviour, please reach out for support:  Notes for media:
DIA uses the term child sexual abuse imagery (PDF, 625KB). The term child pornography downplays the harm of child sexual abuse

For more information on the role of the Digital Child Exploitation Team, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit https://www.dia.govt.nz/Preventing-Online-Child-Sexual-Exploitation

Media Contact:
Media Desk - Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs
Mobile: +64 27 535 8639
Email: media@dia.govt.nz