The former mayor of the tiny Pacific island community of Pitcairn has lost his appeal against convictions for downloading more than 1000 child sex images and videos.
Pitcairn Island Photo: Sybil Sassoon / Robert Harding
In March, Michael Warren was found guilty of 20 charges relating to his collection of child abuse images and two charges of possessing other indecent items and sentenced to 20 months jail on Pitcairn.
Warren took his case to the Pitcairn Island Court of Appeal last week and his appeal against both the conviction and sentence was dismissed the following day.
The three judges will release their reasons later.
At his sentencing in March, Judge Arthur Tompkins said Warren showed no remorse and no insight into the effect on victims every time the images were downloaded.
During the trial, the Crown told the court Warren downloaded much of the material while he was mayor of the tiny island. He made trips to New Zealand and the United Kingdom in his official capacity where the Crown said he underwent child protection training in the aftermath of the 2004 Pitcairn sex abuse trials.
His sentence will begin in about six month's time, once prison officers from New Zealand travel to the island. Warren would also be subjected to a seven year extended supervision order which would see him being monitored by authorities and restrict what he can do.
