Nelson Man Sentenced for Extreme Child Exploitation Crimes

A 22-year-old man from Nelson, Storm Uriah Constable-Carter, has been sentenced to five years and five months in prison for his involvement in extreme child exploitation material. The sentencing took place at the Nelson District Court, where Judge Tony Snell described the material as among the most horrific ever encountered.

Constable-Carter’s actions included possessing and distributing thousands of videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children, as well as zoosadism, which involves the sexual abuse and torture of animals. This behavior was brought to light after he made statements online expressing a desire to emulate notorious child sex offenders.

Judge Snell reached his sentencing decision after the Crown sought a starting point of 14 years, citing the severe nature of the offenses. Prosecutor Daniel Baxter emphasized the impact of the crimes, noting that the material involved real victims suffering horrific abuse, including infants and toddlers.

During the proceedings, Constable-Carter appeared via video link and showed little emotion as he faced multiple charges. His criminal activities included 50 charges related to the possession and distribution of objectionable material, with the victims ranging from newborns to early teens. Many of the files featured graphic images of children bound and subjected to sexual violence.

Judge Snell characterized the material as “graphic and horrific,” reinforcing that it was not a victimless crime. He acknowledged that while the case was severe, he hesitated to label it as the “worst ever,” suggesting that such offenses may always escalate.

The conviction stemmed from an investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), which identified a video file in a cloud storage account linked to Constable-Carter. Investigators discovered that he had created and controlled multiple accounts over several years, using at least 61,061 objectionable publications to distribute such material.

Constable-Carter’s activities came to light after he moved from Auckland to the Tasman district in April 2022. The investigation revealed that he had created videos involving bestiality and had engaged in online conversations indicating his sexual preferences for various animals, including dogs, horses, and pigs.

In formulating the sentence, Judge Snell considered mitigating factors, such as Constable-Carter’s age and potential for rehabilitation. Yet, he underscored the necessity of denouncing the crimes and ensuring community safety. The sentence comprises four years for possession and four years for manufacturing objectionable material, served concurrently. His release will be contingent upon the decision of the Parole Board.

The DIA’s Digital Child Exploitation Team continues to combat such offenses, having conducted 69 investigations into child exploitation cases in 2024. The organization also reported blocking over one million attempts to access websites hosting child sexual abuse material.

Tim Houston, manager of the DIA investigation team, stated, “Every time an offender shares or accesses an image or video of child abuse, they are continuing the abuse of that child and exacerbating the threat of child sexual exploitation.”

The severity of this case has highlighted the ongoing challenge authorities face in tackling child exploitation, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and intervention in preventing such crimes.

For individuals affected by sexual abuse, resources and support are available. It is essential to reach out for help if you or someone you know is in crisis.