THOMAS SLOMAN AND SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN BASINGSTOKE

A convicted paedophile from Basingstoke, Thomas Sloman, has received an 11-year prison sentence for his heinous involvement in viewing and soliciting live footage of children being sexually abused and tortured in the Philippines. The severity of his crimes was confirmed after a jury at Winchester Crown Court found him guilty of 19 counts, encompassing the creation of thousands of indecent images of children as well as attempts to engage in sexual offences against minors.

The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about Sloman’s actions and online behavior. It was disclosed that the 43-year-old resident of Cairngorm Close, Buckskin, had actively sought out perpetrators operating sex abuse networks and requested them to inflict suffering upon the children for his own sexual pleasure. Chat logs presented during the trial demonstrated how Sloman repeatedly solicited for abuse images online and attempted to arrange live viewings through the internet.

During the court case, prosecutors highlighted that Sloman inquired about the ages of the children involved, showing a disturbing preference for very young victims as young as four or five years old. He also exchanged messages asking to see young girls and sought to establish personal contact with the victims. His conversations included references to raping a young girl on multiple occasions, with chat room records indicating his repeated anticipation of such acts.

It was also noted that Sloman, whose wife is Filipino and who had visited the Philippines several times, displayed a troubling pattern of behavior. Investigations uncovered that he not only viewed abuse online but also boasted about his own past sexual encounters with young girls in the Philippines, claiming to have had sex with them. His defense lawyer, Nick Tucker, stated that Sloman claimed to have engaged in sexual activities with young girls previously and admitted that boasts about past conduct were part of his misguided attempts to seek gratification.

Tucker emphasized the monstrous nature of the offenses, acknowledging explicitly how horrifying they were. Despite his criminal actions, Sloman’s lawyer pointed out that he was a loving and devoted father to his two young children, raising questions about how someone could portray a caring family man while engaging in such heinous acts behind closed doors. This dichotomy in his life was described as 'mystifying' by the defense.

The conviction followed a police raid carried out by the National Crime Agency (NCA) at Sloman’s residence in January 2015. Authorities seized numerous electronic devices and computers that contained a staggering amount of abusive material. Forensic analysis uncovered roughly 12,000 indecent images of children, with over 2,000 classified as category A, indicating the most severe forms of abuse. Many of these images were screen captures sourced from live webcam streams, making the abuse even more chilling.

Further records showed that Sloman’s online activities included more than 110,000 chats, many encrypted to evade detection. The charges against him included 10 counts of producing indecent images and nine counts of attempting to commission or engaging in sexual offences against children, spanning years from 2008 to 2014. Despite denying the charges, claiming his computer had been hacked, Sloman was found guilty after a four-day trial in May.

On September 9, Judge Nigel Lickley QC sentenced Sloman to 11 years in prison, coupled with a two-and-a-half-year supervision order. Additionally, Sloman will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life. The judge emphasized the gravity of his crimes, describing them as 'grotesque' and 'evil,' reflecting the depths to which individuals can sink for profit and gratification at the expense of innocent children.

In his remarks, Judge Lickley condemned the exploitation of children for sexual pleasure, reinforcing society’s abhorrence of such acts. He expressed concern that victims—likely abused by family members or relatives—are left with irreparable trauma. The judge pointed out that Sloman had no regard for the suffering caused and exhibited a complete lack of empathy for his victims.

The court also highlighted the broader threat Sloman posed to the public, noting his status as a 'dangerous offender' with a significant risk to children worldwide. Despite claims of being a loving father, Sloman’s two children will be forced to confront the reality of their father’s double life.

Following the sentencing, NCA officer Jason Booth reinforced the message that Thomas Sloman's distance from victims in the Philippines did not diminish his guilt. Booth stated that the abuse was driven solely by Sloman’s personal desires, and the NCA continues to prioritize targeting offenders involved in live-streamed abuse, whether in the UK or abroad. The agency remains committed to protecting vulnerable children from all forms of exploitation, regardless of geographical boundaries.