An online predator's been sentenced to seven years in prison, after over a decade of offending

Open Justice reports Finn Cottam took images off women's social media accounts, and manipulated them into pornographic material, using it to blackmail them.

Cottam used the dark web, multiple VPN applications, and encrypted emails, to disguise his physical location.

When he was eventually traced to a property in Motueka, Police found more than 8000 objectionable images and videos, including child exploitation material.

Detective Douglas Nuku, says it took a complex investigation, with nearly two years of work, until they could charge Finn Cottam.