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Isle Of Wight Businessman - Charged With Serious Child Sexual Offences - Remanded In Custody

Wednesday, 18 November 2020 14:38

By Isle of Wight Radio reporter

A well-known Isle of Wight businessman, accused of a number of "serious" sexual offences involving children, has been refused bail.

Peter Tomlinson, 63, of Baring Road, Cowes appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates Court via videolink today (Wednesday) and has been remanded in custody.

He is accused of 12 offences involving children aged as young as 11, as Isle of Wight Radio previously reported. They include:

  • Five counts of paying for the sexual services of a girl under 13
  • Two counts of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child under 13
  • Two counts of intentionally encouraging/assisting the commission of an either way offence
  • Three counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo photographs of a child.

Mr Tomlinson is the former owner of JR Zone and the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce. He is no longer involved with either business.

The court heard how Mr Tomlinson is alleged to have paid up to £5,000 in various transactions to an account in the Philippines. They involved allegedly paying to watch live streams of "serious child sexual abuse", the court was told.

Those transactions were said to be traced, with help from American authorities and the National Crime Agency, back to Mr Tomlinson.

An argument was made for Mr Tomlinson to be granted bail, with conditions, by his defence.

Mr Tomlinson has been remanded in custody to appear at the Isle of Wight Crown Court, Newport, on Tuesday December 15. 

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