Revealed: True Extent Of Isle Of Wight Businessman's "Sickening And Horrific" Child Sex Crimes

A well-known Isle of Wight businessman repeatedly asked for “harder” sexual abuse footage of his young victims - and referred to his "sickening and horrific" sex crimes against young children as an "escape from reality".

Peter Tomlinson, of Baring Road, Cowes, has pleaded guilty to string of sexual offences at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Friday).

It follows a major National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation which uncovered "the most heinous abuse of children thousands of miles away".

Between May 2015 and April 2017, Mr Tomlinson - a 63-year-old former president of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce - paid £5,511 via 127 transactions to accounts in the Philippines, the NCA found.

All were for suspected live-streamed child sexual abuse (CSA).

The NCA uncovered evidence that between 5 May 2018 and 13 February 2019, Mr Tomlinson repeatedly paid one female facilitator, believed to be the mother, for the live-streamed abuse of two 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 Mr Tomlinson and the Filipino facilitator – who has been arrested and the children safeguarded.

They exchanged 4,166 lines of chat on Skype – 358 indicated to be video calls and 3,809 text messages.

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 with him telling her: “I am busy in meetings” and “I’m still working”.

He was arrested by NCA officers at his home in October last year, telling officers: 

“The thing you’re looking for is on my computer in there. It is my escape from reality. That is all it is.”

NCA operations manager Phil Eccles 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.”

The businessman is also the former owner of child's play centre JR Zone. He is no longer involved with the company.

The NCA also found evidence of more victims of live-streaming abuse, including an indecent image of a girl aged about eight. A further investigation is ongoing.

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Mr Tomlinson has been remanded in custody to appear at the Isle of Wight Crown Court for sentencing on March 5 2021. 

Child protection charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation runs the Stop It Now! helpline – 0808 1000 900 – which offers confidential advice to anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s behaviour towards children. www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk.