A Hastings man has been sentenced to preventive detention with a minimum jail term of 20 years after pleading guilty to 60 charges of sex offending against children.
Aaron John Ellmers admitted in February this year to disabling and stupefying children, unlawful sexual connection and making an intimate visual recording.
The youngest victim was 18 months old.
The 41-year-old admitted to police that he travelled to Christchurch from Hastings after agreeing to pay someone $500 so he could sexually abuse a toddler.
During sentencing at the Napier High Court on Tuesday Justice Wylie said Ellmers showed a lack of remorse and there was a very high risk of him reoffending.
The judge said a sentence of preventive detention was justified to protect the community.
Four children were rescued from further abuse due to the police operation that resulted in Ellmers' arrest.
