ANDREW TOMSON FROM PLAWSWORTH CHARGED WITH CHILD GROOMING AND INDECENT IMAGES IN CHESTER-LE-STREET

In July 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Andrew Tomson, a resident of Plawsworth near Chester-le-Street, who was found to have engaged in heinous acts of child exploitation and possession of indecent images. The case drew significant attention from law enforcement and the judiciary due to the severity of the offences and Tomson's prior criminal record.

Andrew Tomson, aged 37, was identified as the individual responsible for a series of disturbing activities that included grooming a young girl and possessing a large collection of illicit images. He was known to have used the password ‘I love little girls’ to hide vile content on his mobile device, which was discovered during a police search. The police had visited his address on March 10 as part of their investigation, during which they requested to examine his phone. Tomson initially claimed he had lost the device but then attempted to conceal it behind his back when asked to produce it.

Upon inspection, officers uncovered nine Category A, five Category B, and 36 Category C indecent images of children stored on his phone. Further investigation revealed that Tomson possessed two additional devices that he had failed to declare during the initial search. During a police interview, he unlocked one of these devices using the passcode ‘I love little girls,’ which led to the discovery of an additional 85 indecent images and videos depicting children.

The court heard that Tomson had also engaged in grooming activities online. He communicated with a 13-year-old girl, who has complex needs, through the Talk With Stranger website and later via Snapchat. During their interactions, Tomson falsely claimed to be a 17-year-old girl named Chloe. He encouraged her to send explicit pictures and videos of herself performing sexual acts, further demonstrating his predatory behaviour. Prosecutor Helen Towers highlighted that Tomson had also made threats to the young girl and her family, adding to the gravity of his offences.

It was noted that Tomson was under close police surveillance due to previous offences, which underscores the ongoing concern about his behaviour. During his first appearance at magistrates’ court, he pleaded guilty to all charges, including the possession and distribution of indecent images and the grooming of a minor.

In sentencing, Recorder Alistair MacDonald QC emphasized the seriousness of the crimes, stating, “These are serious offences and it is not the first time that you have been before the court for offences of this sort. You have three offences of breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, possession of indecent images of children, distribution of such images, and most seriously, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. It is clear the sentences imposed upon you previously had little to no effect on your behaviour.”

As a result, Tomson was sentenced to six years in prison, with an additional four-year extension period. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge as part of his punishment, reflecting the court’s condemnation of his actions and the need for justice for the victims involved.