SEX OFFENDER LEFT YOUNG GIRL 'DISGUSTED AND FREAKED OUT' AFTER 'GROTESQUE' ABUSE
An elderly man has been sentenced to prison after causing a young girl to feel 'horrified, disgusted, and freaked out' due to his serious sexual abuse, which left her feeling 'like a thing, not a person.' Philip Tomlinson, who is 73 and resides on North Street in Bridlington, strongly denied the allegations and fought against them throughout a five-day trial at Hull Crown Court.Despite his denial, Tomlinson was convicted by a jury on all charges of indecent assault brought against him.
The court was told that his refusal to accept guilt meant he would receive no credit for any guilty pleas, and he was determined to contest the case.
Prosecutor Julia Baggs outlined that Tomlinson had sexually abused the girl multiple times, often giving her alcohol prior to assaulting her.
Evidence included a sexualised image depicting the girl’s head superimposed onto the body of a naked woman.
In her statement, the victim expressed feelings of fear and insecurity.
She said, 'I didn't really understand what was happening or how serious it was.' She described feeling dehumanized by the abuse, which caused her to withdraw and lose trust in others.
The girl also described feeling 'horrified, disgusted, and freaked out,' and stated that her self-esteem continues to suffer because of Tomlinson’s actions.
During the trial, Tomlinson maintained his innocence, claiming, 'I have no sexual interest in her far from it.
I can't understand why she is making these allegations.' He insisted he never groomed her with cider, nor did he touch her sexually.
Mitigating the sentence, lawyer Michele Stuart-Lofthouse noted that Tomlinson had not committed any additional crimes since the incident and was experiencing health issues.
The court was informed of some outdated and unrelated convictions.
Judge Mark Bury described Tomlinson’s actions as a 'campaign of sexual abuse' and criticized his conduct as a 'grotesque' breach of proper behavior, including giving alcohol to the girl.
The judge praised the victim for her bravery in coming forward and expressed satisfaction that she was believed.
Addressing Tomlinson, he said, 'You lack any real courage.
Her life has been seriously impacted by your actions.
I hope she finds some satisfaction from having stood up for herself and being believed.
Your plea of guilty does not earn you credit; you fought the case and now you will pay for it.' Tomlinson was sentenced to eight years in prison, with an additional one-year extended license period after release.
He is also required to register as a sex offender for life.
The judge added that he would not be eligible for parole until approved by the Parole Board.
Finally, the judge told the victim: "I hope you get closure from today.
The rest of your life starts now."
