Father sentenced over beastiality videos

 A father who admitted having videos of beastiality and violent sex on his computer has been granted permanent name suppression to protect his teenage daughter.

The 37-year-old man was sentenced to community detention and supervision at the Wellington District Court today.

He had earlier admitted two representative charges of possession of objectionable material.

The 30 videos had been collected on his home computer between 2006 and 2009.

The images ranged from lasting a few seconds to three quarters of an hour.

Judge Bruce Davidson said all the images involved actors and were contrived scenes.

"There were no real victims involved," he said.

The man's lawyer Phil Mitchell said his client's daughter was an innocent party.

The family had told her nothing of her father's conviction for the offences and publication of his name would reveal the details.

Judge Davidson asked: "What are they going to tell her when he's at home next week with a bracelet on his ankle?"

The man replied that he had a long drive home to think about that, but it would be a heavily edited version of the truth.

Mr Mitchell argued his client's business would be put in jeopardy, and his father, who had contributed to the community, would lose credibility.

Matthew Ferrier, for the Crown said any adverse consequences to his business were speculative, and media reports would make it clear it was the son who offended rather than his father.

Judge Davidson said for him to grant name suppression, "there must be a real risk that if there were publicity (the daughter) would face slighting and taunting from her social circle at school".

The court was not in the business of risking damage to the teen, he said before granting permanent name suppression and any details that might identify him.

The man stood tearfully in the dock as he was sentenced to four months community detention and 12 months supervision.

Judge Davidson ordered a psychiatric evaluation that might give the man some "insight" into his offending, and ordered no access to the internet except for legitimate work purposes. NewsTalkZB

Photo: stock.xchng