Seoras Martin-Smith sentenced for indecent communications with teen and child exploitation images

A 26 year old man received a sentencing in New Plymouth District Court for indecent communication with a minor and possession of child exploitation material. From 2022 to 2024, Seoras Martin-Smith used Discord to force a 13-year-old girl to exchange explicit content via FaceTime and email, and sexually exploited her by threatening to leak her photos and verbally abusing her. A search of his devices uncovered 52 child sexual abuse files, including animated material.

Judge Gregory Hikaka described the messages as manipulative, sinister, cruel and aggressive, but converted the original sentence up for consideration, 27 months’ imprisonment, to a sentence of 12 months’ home detention with six months of post-detention conditions.