'One of the worst': Judge condemns man's decade of child sex crimes

Warning: This story deals with child sexual abuse and may be distressing.

Glen Elwyn Connor’s depraved desire for objectionable material couldn’t be satisfied, even when he knew authorities had him cornered.

The Department of Internal Affairs had raided his flat and taken his devices for forensic examination when they were made aware that child sexual exploitation material was being uploaded on one of Connor’s communication applications.

They raided his house again, bringing a decade-long stretch of offending to an end.

More offending came to light when it was revealed Connor had not only accessed objectionable material - he had sexually abused boys, photographed and filmed them before sharing the content with others online.

‘He is not sorry, he is just sorry he got caught’

Now, parents of three of his victims have described the harm Connor, 34, has caused.

One parent said the impact on all of his victims was massive.

“My son is still having counselling, it has resulted in tough times.

“This scum took advantage of vulnerable children for his own pleasure.

“His actions were calculated, and predatory, he is not sorry, he is just sorry he got caught, he is the lowest type of person.”

Connor appeared at the Christchurch District Court for sentencing today on charges of sexual violation, indecent acts, making and distributing objectionable publications, grooming and conspiracy to blackmail.

Another parent said her son’s childhood innocence had been taken away because of Connor’s actions.

“You made me feel like I failed as a parent.

“You left him broken, unsure and angry.”

Another parent said they had trusted Connor with their son, but that trust had now been destroyed.

“I never thought this would happen.”

Three boys aged between 11 and 15 were victims of his offending between 2022 and 2024, according to the Crown summary of facts.

 
Glen Elwyn Connor was jailed for 13 years' and six months at the Christchurch District Court. Photo/ Alyse Wright

Connor shared objectionable photographs of the first victim with another person before making an agreement to blackmail the boy aged 13, via social media, in an effort to make him send more explicit images.

The second person later told Connor the boy had not accepted his request to communicate.

Connor created 16 videos and 17 photos of the boy.

He then turned his attention to another boy, aged 15, via Snapchat, pulling up alongside the boy in his car, as the boy was walking home from school.

Connor asked the boy to get in the car. The boy felt afraid but agreed to go with him.

Connor took the boy to his Christchurch flat and sexually abused him, then drove him home and sexually abused him again.

On another occasion Connor picked the boy up and took him to his flat where another male was waiting.

Connor sexually violated the boy and then told him to commit a sex act with the other male before driving the victim home.

Connor secretly recorded the offending and shared the video with another person online.

The third victim was 13 when Connor started messaging him on Snapchat.

The pair exchanged messages including naked videos and photographs before Connor bought the boy a sex toy to bribe him to meet up.

Connor picked the boy up and drove him to Christchurch Airport. Feeling uncomfortable the boy, asked Connor to drop him off at Shirley, where he then disposed of the toy.

Thousands of files retrieved from devices
The Department of Internal Affairs summary of facts showed Connor was still offending after a search warrant had been executed at his home in April 2024.

In November 2024 while Internal Affairs was completing forensic analysis of various devices, they were made aware that child sexual exploitation material was being uploaded on one of Connor’s communication applications.

An additional search warrant was executed at his house the following month and more items were seized for examination.

In total, between January 2015 and December 2024 Connor, held 23,500 objectionable photo and video files on multiple devices.

He had operated eight unique accounts on four separate online platforms while accessing the dark net between October 2023 and October 2024 to view child exploitation material.

‘Widespread and callous offending’

Crown prosecutor Will Taffs said the harm was significant and enduring, and continued to impact each of the victims.

“We have heard about the broader impact, on families; this will be a forever impact.”

Defence lawyer Kiran Paima said Connor wasn’t trying to shy away from responsibility and had acknowledged what he had done.

He said Connor had reflected on the offending and gained some insight into what had happened.

Judge Raoul Neave said it was one of the worst catalogues of offences he had seen recently.

The judge described the offending as widespread and callous.

Judge Neave sentenced Connor to 13 years and six months’ jail and placed him on the child sex offender register.

Judge Neave ordered Connor to serve a 50% minimum term of imprisonment.

SEXUAL HARM

Where to get help:
If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email support@safetotalk.nz
• For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz
Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list.
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.

Al Williams is an Open Justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald, based in Christchurch. He has worked in daily and community titles in New Zealand and overseas for the last 16 years. Most recently he was editor of the Hauraki-Coromandel Post, based in Whangamatā. He was previously deputy editor of the Cook Islands News.