KEITH TOMLINSON OF GREAT BILLING AND RUSHDEN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AND SHPO BREACHES IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

In August 2018, a man from Rushden, Keith Tomlinson, was sentenced to nearly two years in prison after he was found guilty of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Tomlinson, aged 56 and residing on Devon Walk in Rushden, appeared before Leicester Crown Court on June 30 to plead guilty to the breach. The investigation into his actions was conducted by specialist officers from the Public Protection command, following reports that he had engaged in unauthorized contact with a person under the age of 16.

The evidence quickly confirmed that Tomlinson was seen walking along a street with an eight-year-old child, which was a direct violation of the conditions set by his SHPO. This breach was considered particularly serious given Tomlinson’s criminal history and the nature of his previous offenses.

Keith Tomlinson has long been recognized as a dangerous and relentless predatory paedophile. His criminal record spans over three decades, during which he has served multiple prison sentences for sex offenses involving women and young girls. His most notorious crime involved abducting an 11-year-old girl from a Girl Guides’ camp and raping her at knifepoint.

In addition to that heinous act, Tomlinson was also previously jailed for grooming a nine-year-old girl, further cementing his reputation as a serious threat to children. His latest sentencing resulted in a 21-month prison term for breaching the SHPO, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the ongoing danger he poses.

Earlier incidents in his criminal history include a March 2005 conviction for targeting a nine-year-old girl in Northampton. At that time, Tomlinson, then 43 and residing in Cottage Gardens, Great Billing, was sentenced for indecently assaulting the young girl. He had met and befriended her near her home in The Mounts, after which he engaged in inappropriate behavior.

During the court proceedings, Tomlinson admitted to meeting the girl multiple times over a three-week period. He spoke to her, asked her to help with car repairs, and even offered her sweets, attempting to groom her. Prosecutor Maria Savvides revealed that Tomlinson had asked the girl to be his “little girlfriend,” but she refused, citing her young age. In a disturbing act, he held her and placed sweets down her T-shirt. The girl, frightened by his advances, later reported the incident to her mother after obtaining Tomlinson’s car registration number.

Judge Charles Wide, presiding over the case, emphasized the severity of Tomlinson’s actions, stating, “You are an absolutely relentless, predatory paedophile. I have no doubt whatsoever that your motivation is grooming, because that is what it was, of this nine-year-old girl. Your motivation and sole purpose was to prepare her for very serious sexual abuse.”

In sentencing, Judge Wide acknowledged that the typical sentence for grooming a child would be around four years. However, considering Tomlinson’s extensive criminal history, including the rape of the 11-year-old girl, he doubled the sentence to eight years, with an additional two-year extension to be served upon release. Furthermore, he imposed a three-year concurrent sentence for the assault charge and banned Tomlinson from working with or being alone around young people for the rest of his life.

Defending attorney Richard Holloway highlighted the importance of Tomlinson’s past convictions, stating, “The aggravating features here are, of course, his previous convictions. He cannot get away from those facts nor can the court ignore them.”

Overall, the case underscores the ongoing threat posed by Keith Tomlinson, a man with a long history of sexual offenses, and the judicial system’s efforts to protect vulnerable children from his predatory behavior.