Recipient of a ‘Distinguished Service Award’ from Motorsport New Zealand, Christopher Ronald Dunn appeared in Timaru District Court on Thursday for sentencing on charges of possessing objectionable publications, as well as having the knowledge and intent to access a computer system for dishonest purposes.
Dunn pleaded guilty to the charges in December of 2022 after thousands of images featuring child exploitation were located on his laptop following a tipoff to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. It’s reported the offending took place between 2014 to 2021 when search warrants were executed.
Dunn was awarded a Distinguished Service Award by Motorsport New Zealand in 2017 for his involvement in the sport dating back to 1990 when he raced for the first time.
He is also known for his off-track motor racing commitments, including significant involvement as the President of the South Island Endurance series.
A Timaru Herald journalist who was present at the trial quoted Judge Savage as saying “people like you” are the reason children are sexually exploited, before adding “you did this to keep your distance” on the manner in which the offending was undertaken.
“These were not, as in some cases, computer generated. They were actual children, and wherever they were, many have been subjected to all manner of offending which would impact the rest of their lives.
“The reason they are subject to this is because people like you all around the world have an interest in it.
“It is trite of you to say you were keeping your distance. You were in the thick of it.
“If there were no end users of this filth, then there would be no one to create it in the first place.
“For seven years, you let this rampant interest in the abuse of young children run wild. You are going to be held accountable today.
“The videos and images are of female children and adolescents. Of the videos and images of young children, the descriptions identify three toddlers, one two-year-old and eight other images where a potential age is described placing the child as between five and eight years old.”
Judge Savage noted Dunn was to serve four and a half years in jail, with a 25 per cent discount for an early guilty plea, 5 per cent discount for previously demonstrated good behaviour and 7.5 per cent off for “some expressions of remorse”.
Dunn will serve two years and nine months in jail.
