Police are investigating online threats made against a woman who filmed herself sexually abusing a one-year-old boy for $300.
The profile picture of the Krystal Harvey should go to prison Facebook page. Photo: FACEBOOK
Krystal Harvey was sentenced to eight months home detention, 100 hours community work and a year of post-detention conditions when she appeared in the Manukau District Court yesterday.
The case has sparked outrage on social media, with many people saying Harvey should be behind bars and others threatening to physically harm her.
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A police spokesperson has confirmed they were taking the threats seriously but would not comment further while the matter was under investigation.
In court yesterday, the Crown asked Judge Phil Recordon to jail Harvey for performing a sex act on a one-year-old boy and selling the video to a paedophile.
But the judge opted for home detention after a probation and psychological report found she had a low-risk of re-offending.
The 23-year-old will also be monitored for 20 months.
Her lawyer Annabel Maxwell-Scott told RNZ that meant Harvey would have to return to court every three months and she would be in the system longer than if she had been jailed.
Stop Demand works to combat the sexual denigration of women and children.
Founder Denise Ritchie said when abuse was filmed and shared, it could have ongoing effects on victims.
"In effect, they continue to be victims throughout their entire life and this can be psychologically crippling."
Ms Ritchie said the effect on victims of this kind of offending escalated as the child became aware that pedophiles online could continue to use the images for their gratification.
Commenting on the Harvey case, Ms Ritchie said her organisation did not endorse threats of violence.
Child Matters is a charitable trust dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Chief executive Anthea Simcock said people needed to start asking themselves what they can do as a neighbour, friend and member of a community.
"We can always palm it out on someone else but it's so much harder to say 'look, is there one little thing I might be able to do in the future'?," Ms Simcock said.
It was important people talked about child abuse but threatening someone was the work of bullies and cowards, she said.
"Don't just respond in anger, you're not helping the situation and if you really want something done, start with yourself."
In the past few hours, Harvey has been remanded in custody but it was not clear why.
An RNZ reporter was at court but was stopped from entering the courtroom by security.