A detective was able to remotely download 500 images located on the Auckland man’s computer, through a peer-to-peer file sharing website.
The material contained explicit child sex abuse, including 16 videos which were the most serious of its kind, the court was told.
One of the images viewed by the detectives was of a child who was said to have worn a distinctive t-shirt and necklace.
Through further police inquiries the defendant’s partner later identified the girl as their daughter.
Interviewed by police, the child disclosed that on two occasions her father had undressed her and sexually violated her, which she said made her “sad”.