A man imprisoned for at least 20 years for sex offending against children has challenged that sentence in the Court of Appeal.
In May, Aaron Elmers was sentenced to preventive detention after pleading guilty to 60 charges, including stupefying children.
Ellmers also admitted travelling to Christchurch from Hastings after agreeing to pay someone $500 so he could sexually abuse a toddler.
Elmers' lawyer Chris Tennet told the Court of Appeal on Tuesday he had no quarrel with the imposition of preventive detention but the 20-year minimum sentence was manifestly excessive.
He said the Crown had referred in its submissions to the generous discount given to Ellmers for his guilty plea but in fact that wasn't reflected in the lengthy minimum sentence finally imposed.
For the Crown, Kate Bicknell said Ellmers had a continuous history of sexual offending and the sentence was appropriate.
The Court reserved its decision.
