GLYNN TONKISS PLYMOUTH PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS FOR ABUSE AGAINST SIX VICTIMS
In December 2020, Glynn Tonkiss, a former art teacher from Plymouth, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 16 years after being convicted of 35 separate counts of indecent assault.These offences spanned a period from 1978 to 1985 and involved six victims who were minors at the time.
The court heard that Tonkiss, now aged 74, had a history of abusing young boys over several years, with the allegations coming to light after a detailed investigation that began in 2017.
His barrister acknowledged that Tonkiss accepted the gravity of his crimes and expressed that he believed he was likely to spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
The sentencing hearing was scheduled for November 30, 2020, during which the judge warned that the sentence would be of 'considerable years of imprisonment.' The case against Tonkiss was built on the testimonies of multiple victims who bravely came forward to recount the abuse they endured.
Many described suffering at the hands of the former teacher both at his school in Plymouth and at his residences located on King Street and Harwell Street.
The police investigation, led by Detective Constable Matthew Nile, uncovered a disturbing pattern of misconduct spanning over a decade.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Tonkiss maintained a stance of denial, claiming he was 'mystified' by the allegations.
He insisted that he was heterosexual and had no sexual interest in boys or men.
However, he later revealed that he had suffered two strokes in 2016, which he claimed affected his emotions and made him aware of 'homosexual inclinations' that he previously believed he did not possess.
He suggested that these tendencies had been dormant during the time of the abuse and that the strokes had 'brought it to the surface' and 'triggered' his supposed homosexual tendencies.
During the trial, the court was informed that many of the victims attended a school in Plymouth, which was not named publicly to protect their identities.
Witnesses provided harrowing accounts of the abuse, describing how Tonkiss performed indecent acts, including oral sex and masturbation, on the boys.
The jury found him guilty of 35 counts related to seven victims, while acquitting him of one count involving an eighth boy.
In his defense, Tonkiss attempted to portray himself as a victim of the victims' alleged aggressive sexual overtures.
He claimed that one of the boys was 'mixed up' and possibly 'bisexual.' Despite his earlier denials, during police interviews, he admitted to performing oral sex on one of his accusers at his home.
He also attempted to justify his actions by referencing the school's environment, describing it as 'like a borstal.' Following the conviction, the court was informed that Tonkiss accepted he was likely to die in prison, and the judge emphasized the seriousness of his crimes, indicating that the sentence would reflect the gravity of his offences and the harm caused to his victims.
