LEE TOMLINSON FROM STOCKTON BUSTED FOR BREACHING COURT ORDERS AND SEX OFFENSES

In August 2013, Lee Tomlinson, a known sex offender residing on Billingham Road in Stockton, found himself back in legal trouble after breaching the strict conditions imposed upon him following his previous convictions. The incident involved Tomlinson entering into a relationship with a woman who had two young children, without notifying the authorities as required by law. This breach of his court-mandated restrictions led to his imprisonment for six months.

According to court reports, Tomlinson not only engaged in a romantic relationship with the woman but also stayed overnight at her residence on multiple occasions. Furthermore, he took the step of collecting the children from their primary school, actions that raised serious concerns given his status as a registered sex offender. The court was informed that Tomlinson had failed to disclose his current address to the authorities, a violation of his ongoing obligations under the sex offenders’ register.

At the time of the breach, Tomlinson was 33 years old. His criminal history is extensive; in March 2007, he was sentenced to six years in prison for attempted rape of a young girl and three counts of indecent assault. These offences occurred when he was approximately 17 or 18 years old, and he has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Following his conviction, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and was prohibited from having contact with children.

After serving his sentence, Tomlinson was released from prison in March 2011. Despite the restrictions, he reportedly maintained a relationship with the woman for about a year. During this period, he admitted to six counts of failing to comply with his notification requirements as a sex offender. Prosecutor David Brooke highlighted that there were multiple instances where Tomlinson had direct contact with the children, including the act of collecting them from school, which was a clear breach of his legal obligations.

Tomlinson claimed that his stay at the woman’s house was limited to just seven nights over the course of their relationship, and he insisted that the children were only present on two occasions. He also stated that he had informed the woman of his criminal convictions, although she was unaware of the specific restrictions that applied to him.

Uzma Khan, representing the defense, argued that Tomlinson had been compliant with his notification duties for the first 18 months after his release from prison. She emphasized that he had fully disclosed his past to the woman and that there were no allegations of inappropriate behavior during their relationship. Ms. Khan described Tomlinson, whose family was present in court, as an intelligent young man attempting to rebuild his life after a troubled past.

However, Judge Peter Armstrong was not persuaded by these arguments. He rejected pleas to suspend the jail sentence, emphasizing the importance of deterrence in cases involving breaches of court orders and contact with children. The judge stated that such behavior could not be tolerated and immediately sentenced Tomlinson to six months in prison.

In a related background, Tomlinson’s criminal history includes a serious case from 2007, when he was convicted of attempted rape of an eight-year-old girl. The incident occurred when he was approximately 17 or 18 years old. The jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to six years in prison. During the trial, his defense argued that he was not a danger to children and that the incident was an isolated aberration. His mother, who works as an administrative officer at Holme House Prison in Stockton, was present during the proceedings, highlighting the personal difficulties faced by his family.

Judge Peter Armstrong condemned Tomlinson’s continued denial of the offences and his lack of remorse. He underscored the severity of the crime, noting that attempted child rape is among the most serious offences a court must handle. As a result, Tomlinson was disqualified for life from working with children and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community.