A man has been sentenced to three years jail after facing a number of child sex charges in the Bay of Plenty.

Stewart Permain, 45, received a sentence of three years and three months imprisonment when appearing at Rotorua District Court today.

Detective Carmen Sycamore says the joint investigation by Department of Internal Affairs and New Zealand Police proved highly successful.

"Child sex offenders should know that our approach to this type of crime is proactive, we are actively seeking those individuals who offend against our most vulnerable members of society.”

"Those seeking to exploit children either in the virtual or real world, rest assured that we will catch you and hold you to account."

Police encourages parents to check what their children are viewing online and discuss the importance of vigilance while using social media platforms.

More online safety advice can be found here