A Hawera man who sold porn on Trade Me has been convicted and fined for distributing objectionable materials.

David Scott Barkla , 38, appeared before Judge Allan Roberts at the Hawera District Court yesterday , where Barkla faced three charges for supplying film with no labels, and four for supplying objectionable publications.

Judge Roberts convicted and fined Barkla $1250.

In July 2012, Barkla advertised and supplied adult DVDs on TradeMe under the account name woking, and had been doing so for over six months.

The Department of Internal Affairs caught wind of the defendant's activities after receiving a complaint concerning the supply of unlabelled DVDs.

DIA bought a few adult titles, and upon receipt of the seven DVDs in August 2012, found that the titles were unlabelled and unclassified.

Four titles were sent to the Office of Film and Literature Classification for a decision, and all four were classified as objectionable.

In December 2012 , Barkla responded to TradeMe's request for proof of correct labelling by supplying photographs of various DVDs with an R18 label he had peeled from another non-sexual DVD.

TradeMe subsequently refused to allow continuation of adult DVD sales, advising the defendant it would be illegal.

Barkla then contacted previous customers to sell his remaining stock.

DIA seized a total of 283 adult titles and 100 slicks when they searched his property in January this year.

Barkla admitted to the offending, saying the sale was a way to "make some additional income".

Barkla also voluntarily forfeited a shipment of 200 titles ordered but not yet received.

He acknowledged he had seen the slicks and read the descriptions of the DVDs supplied, with elements of "watersports" and "throat-gagging", and asked DIA if it was illegal.

Barkla also stated he was aware the DVDs showed women treated in a demeaning manner, which he found disgusting.

Lawyer Sarah Law, on behalf of the Crown, said the seized titles and the forfeited shipment included DVDs whose titles, slick images and descriptions, or content, showed them to include the same elements that resulted in the four classified titles being found to be objectionable.

The forfeited shipment included three of the four titles classified as objectionable.

Judge Roberts said the materials were degrading to womankind in general.

"It's thoroughly objectionable and there are no redeeming qualities about it," he said. "Given his [Barkla's] vocation, he should be on notice of the folly of his behaviour."