US student had 16,000 child porn images

Curtis, who had been studying in Hawke's Bay, was jailed for 18 months on each of the possession charges, to be served concurrently, and convicted and discharged on the supply charges.

Judge Geoff Rea said 99 per cent of the files were of underage boys and a forensic search of Curtis' laptop computer found 16,200 still images, 400 to 500 videos and 12 stories with sexual themes.

Curtis admitted he had swapped files with other men and had 300 file-swapping contacts in his computer, including a number overseas.

The seven charges of supplying related to 49 pictures and five videos sent to an undercover police officer late last year.

Judge Rea said he would not consider home detention for Curtis because of the seriousness of the offending and said the accused appeared to have difficulty understanding the damage such activity caused to the young victims.

NZ Newswire, Sept 27, 2011