The Department of Internal Affairs

Department of Internal Affairs | Te Tari Taiwhenua

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Joint operation into sale of online child sexual exploitation material leads to 3-year prison sentence


17 September 2025

Todd Keith Laurance Dale Williams, of Remuera has been sentenced to three years and seven months imprisonment after pleading guilty to four charges related to knowingly possessing child sexual exploitation material. This case involved close to 9,000 still and video images.

In early 2023, the 30-year-old became a person of interest following a joint operation between the Department of Internal Affairs’ Digital Child Exploitation Team and another international law enforcement agency. The investigation surrounded the sale of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) through an online social media application. Around this time the Department also received a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) relating to an objectionable video being uploaded to a social media app, the account which uploaded the file was attributed to Williams.

The 8,928 images found in the offenders’ possession, across multiple devices and accounts, included photographs and videos featuring adults sexually abusing babies and children. A further 3,103 files were found but are not subject to the charges as the age of the victims was difficult to determine.

“People who download this material are perpetuating its creation and the crimes committed against these children. Every image and video possessed by this offender depicts a crime scene, and the worst moment in a child’s life,” said Tim Houston, Manager Digital Child Exploitation Team.

“DIA works closely with partners here in New Zealand and overseas to take a proactive role to identify and prosecute New Zealanders who trade objectionable material to ensure children are not revictimised by those seeking to derive sickening gratification from their suffering."

The devices used by Williams to store and access child sexual exploitation material will be destroyed, by order of the Judge. Williams is also required to register as a child sex offender.

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. 

Support and Resources 
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to engage with their tamariki about safe online practices. Advice and support for parents and caregivers on protecting their 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: 
-ENDS-

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