Joseph Nathan, staff writer.
Friday, 18 July 2025 – Tauranga
A Bay of Plenty early childcare worker has been sentenced to 11 months’ home detention after being caught with hundreds of extreme child sexual abuse videos and images — following a tip-off from the FBI.
Phoebe Robertson, 22, was working as a reliever at a Mount Maunganui childcare centre when she was arrested in October 2024. The FBI had alerted New Zealand authorities after arresting a US-based man and discovering encrypted messages between him and Robertson in which they shared illegal content.
When New Zealand police raided Robertson’s home, they seized six devices containing over 600 child sexual abuse videos, with 298 classified as Category A — the most severe level. The material included videos of toddlers and infants being abused, including acts of sadism and bestiality.
Robertson told police she had a “serious addiction to disgusting things” and described the material as “grossly beautiful.” A psychiatrist was unable to explain her motivations, and a court report noted that she would likely continue seeking out child exploitation material if given access to the internet.
Judge Declines Name Suppression
At Tauranga District Court on Thursday, Judge Stephen Coyle sentenced Robertson to 11 months’ home detention and six months of post-detention conditions, which may include a curfew, electronic monitoring, rehabilitation programs, and community work.
Coyle declined name suppression, calling the offending “perplexing” and stressing the real-world harm behind the digital content.
“This is not victimless offending. Behind every image is a child who has been exploited sexually.”
Robertson pleaded guilty to four representative charges of possessing child sexual abuse material.
Childcare Role and Parental Reassurance
Robertson had worked as an unqualified reliever and had limited direct interaction with children. Parents were informed of the arrest by the childcare centre, which clarified she had not been involved in one-on-one care and there was no evidence she created or distributed the material involving any children at the centre.
How the FBI Caught Her
The investigation began in July 2024 when the FBI arrested a US-based man for distributing and receiving child sexual abuse material. On his devices, agents found chat messages and file transfers with a New Zealand-based user — later identified as Robertson.
New Zealand’s OCEANZ team traced the communications and confirmed that Robertson was employed in the early childhood sector. She was arrested shortly after at the childcare centre.
Key Facts
- Offender: Phoebe Robertson, 22, from Bay of Plenty
- Job: Early childhood reliever
- Arrested: October 2024
- Content: Over 600 CSAM videos; 298 Category A
- Charges: 4x possession of child sexual abuse material
- Sentence: 11 months’ home detention + 6 months’ post-detention conditions
- No suppression granted
The Paper 