Peter Tomlinson, a prominent Island businessman who is accused of paying over £5,000 to watch children as young as 10-years-old being sexually abuse via the internet, has pleaded guilty to the 12 charges against him following an appearance at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Friday).
Tomlinson, 63, of Baring Road in Cowes, appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates Court last month following a major National Crime Agency investigation, which involved law enforcement in the US. When arrested by NCA officers in October last year he said: “The thing you’re looking for is on my computer in there. It is my escape from reality. That is all it is.”
Peter, a member of the Catholic church, appeared before the Isle of Wight Crown Court this morning and pleaded guilty to all 12 charges against him. He was accused of 5 counts of paying for the sexual services of a girl under 13; 2 counts of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child under 13 and 2 counts of intentionally encouraging/assisting the commission of an either way offence. He was also accused of 3 counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo photographs of a child, namely 47 Category A, 148 Category B, 353 Category C photos and 46 extreme photos.
The court heard how Tomlinson paid £5,511 via 127 transactions to accounts in the Philippines between May 2015 and April 2017 – all for suspected live-streamed child sexual abuse. The NCA uncovered evidence that between May 2018 and February 2019, he repeatedly paid a female facilitator in the Philippines for the live-streamed abuse of 2 young girls. The youngest was just 10 when the abuse began.
In one exchange in January 2019, Tomlinson said he would pay the woman £7.66 if she performed a sex act on the girl. Investigators unearthed proof of thousands of messages between Tomlinson and the Filipino facilitator – who has been arrested and the children safeguarded.
During 358 video calls and 4,166 messages, Tomlinson repeatedly asked for ‘harder’ abuse footage, spelling out what he wanted to see and then complaining about what he received. In June 2018 he paid the woman £12.99 and then complained saying for that price: “I will expect a show with two girls for 30 minutes.”
Communication between Tomlinson and the woman was at all times of the day and night, even when he was working and in meetings.
The National Crime Agency is continuing to investigate evidence of more victims of live-streaming abuse, including an indecent image of a girl aged about 8.
NCA operations manager Phil Eccles has said:
“Peter Tomlinson believed he could carry out his sickening offences from the comfort of his own home and get away with it. He was directly responsible for the most heinous abuse of children thousands of miles away from him.
“Live-streaming sex crimes exploits the vulnerable; he was helped in this case by facilitators whose motive is to make money.
“Live-streaming is a key threat to the UK, and one of the main forms of financially-driven offending, for which the Philippines remains a key hub. The NCA does important work with international law enforcement partners in the Philippines to combat these sorts of crimes.
“Anyone like Tomlinson should know that the NCA and UK police will never give up our pursuit of offenders who commit these horrific crimes.”
Tomlinson will now appear before the court again on 5th March for sentencing, with it being acknowledged that he faces a lengthy custodial sentence. He has been remanded in custody until that date.
The former JR Zone owner, who now has to sign as a sex offender, has also been involved in several other local organisations over the years including Education Destination and Betapak, although he resigned from being a director of these firms in October following his arrest. JR Zone has since changed ownership.
The media and other businesses were made aware of rumours that Peter had been arrested in October last year when a round-robin email was sent out by an unknown whistleblower. It couldn’t be reported at the time due to the ongoing legal proceedings. It can now also be revealed that Tomlinson attempted to take his own life at his home in Cowes, but was resuscitated.
Peter’s wife, Catherine Tomlinson, who remained as a director of a number of Island businesses including BetaPak and Education Destination until 8th December this year, continues to support him.
In a statement, Jon Carter of Betapak has said:
“As soon as we were made aware of, and since the arrest and allegations, we worked with authorities to assist their investigations as necessary, along with conducting our own inhouse investigation and review.
“From the information we have been in receipt of and from our own findings, all appropriate measures and actions have been taken, ensuring safeguarding and safety were at the forefront of all decisions.
“To the best of my knowledge, none of the day to day business activities are directly implicated.
“The individual was removed from directorships within the companies, meaning a change of personal ownership within businesses.
“No comments were made at the time to enable investigations to continue, without speculation or hindrance to the legal process”.
Dirty old man. Well done to all who were involved in bringing this man to justice.
He was supposedly a pillar of the community, and has wrecked so many lives, his own family amongst them. And he paid a woman for the services of her children. Well I hope she gets her just desserts too.
A ‘dirty old man’ is someone who peaks at young women. This ‘thing’ is far far more dangerous than that. No one can ‘help’ how they are wired, BUT they don’t HAVE to act upon such by watching live torture of children.
Needs taking out as can’t be cured.
Search the news, we im port those who do this in G ANGS, only last week yet another g ang of the SAME type as the other several were sentenced for picking on only young w hite children.
The ‘type’ cannot be mentioned, but we all know of such.
Imagine the outcry if it were the other way around. The bb c would never drop the subject and all would be household names. See what is happening in this country.
‘member of the Catholic Church’ says it all really. Forgive their sins so they go and do it again.
I can’t see if he is on remand or walking around like a free person! His crimes defy anything that could be written within the rules of islandecho but this ‘man’ should never be allowed to walk the streets of our Island again. The fact that he has pleaded guilty is quite possibly his attempt to stop any further investigations as he has most certainly been doing this for many years, you don’t just ‘catch’ paedophilia, and I just hope I never see him wandering around like the big fat arrogant business man he used to be… at least he has the support of his church!!
Remanded in custody till March thank god.
great news, thank you.
Just hang him
Yes think the Guilty plea could be, don’t investigate me any further plz,? Anyone else think the same?
I agree. He knew by pleading Guilty the rest of his dirty seedy details wouldnt come out in court. My worry is he owned J R Zone and only sold it when he knew he had been rumbled. We’ll never know if he was up to anything there. Hope they make an example of him, as too many get of so lightly.
If it was legal I’d show him pain for free the twisted freak !
Sick old man and his wife..she must be just as ugly ( sticking by his side) really
What business is he in one wonders, this vile person needs putting away for good
Vulgar man
Don’t drop the soap you dirty…
If he gets less than someone selling class b drugs the world is *+%#£
nonce – needs shooting
Maybe his vic tims should pay him a visit
What sort of person would ‘Stand by him’? His wife is as sick as he is if she can’t work it out. Disgusting vile individuals.
I guess “Standing by him” doesnt mean that she in any way approves of what he’s done. Only hope none of us is ever in the situation of having to make that sort of decision. It’s so easy to say she shouldnt stand by him but how many of us wouldnt stand by our husbands if we had too make a choice. By all means, he should rot in hell for what he’s done, but think we’re all on a slippery slope if we start condemning innocent partners simply by association.
Are you serious. I think you must be sick in the head or either feeble. The wife may be innocent but by “standing by him” she is condoning what he did. And for those customers of Beta Pak….you unwittingly paid thier invoices….???
I’m neither sick in the head or feeble. I merely stated the fact that none of us knows what we would do in a similar situation, which i pray none of us ever do. Your argument regarding the customers of Beta Pak is simply stupid. If you start suggesting Beta Pak customers are partly to blame for giving the scumbag their money which enabled him to pay for those horrible and disgusting deeds, then where does it stop, do we start blaming those who rent his properties etc. Look I’ve no problem with scumbags like him getting what he deserves which sadly under the current regulations is simply not severe enough, but lets not start a witch hunt.
Julie, please don’t speak for me. You say ” . . . none of us knows what we would do . . . “. Well, I certainly know what I would do in a similar situation, whether it was a partner or a relation or even a close friend or colleague. As I would feel horribly betrayed by the vile monster I would disown him and demand the authorities that they put him away for life – and I MEAN for the remainder of his life.
really!! she just as bad as him for standing by him!
That’s horrible! Why would anyone do that? Its not entertaining at all, its horrible! And live streaming as well! Chuck him into prison fir the rest of his life! I can’t believe this man
HE GOES TO CHURCH…….WHAT A JOKE
i can not believe what i am reading!! what a disgusting excuse for a human being!! i hope he rots in prison and is put through the most horrific trauma every day for the rest of his worthless life!
Lock him up and l throwaway the key
Why is his wife continuing to support him?
Why would anyone support a paedo?
He is a sick f*** and so is she.
Maybe she in it to she needs locking up the
As a victim of domestic abuse, I can understand why his lawyer is saying his wife stands by him. Perhaps she is terrified of him, and afriad to say anything else, he certainly doesn’t look the timid type. I appreciate we’re not aware of the full facts,but I hope now that he’s behind bars, she has the courage and support to get her own life back and leaves him to rot in hell.
What! his wife is supporting him, she is just as guilty by supporting him, has she no feelings for the children involved? how can you support a MONSTER?
The paedo tried to commit suicide….should have left him to rot
From experience on the inside, “i hope you will Have fun inside I’m sure they’ll enjoy you”