Former PCSO from Shrewsbury jailed for sex offences
A former PCSO from Shrewsbury was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court today to 16 years in prison for the rape of a child under 13.
Derren Jon Tomlinson, from Riverdale Road, Shrewsbury, was also sentenced to four years for sexual assault and one year for a bestiality offence, both to run concurrently.
The 44 year-old, who was placed on the sex offenders register for life, had previously pleaded guilty to the offences when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Thursday 4 February.
Tomlinson, who was suspended from his role as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) with West Mercia Police on November 25, was formally dismissed from the force at a misconduct hearing on Monday 14 March.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cullen said: "As a PCSO, Tomlinson held a position of responsibility within the Shrewsbury community. While none of these offences were connected to his role, he has violated the trust that both the public and his colleagues placed in him in the most heinous of ways.
"A proactive and thorough investigation was conducted by our officers as soon information regarding these offences was discovered and today Tomlinson has quite rightly been made to face the consequences of his despicable actions.
"I hope that the sentence he is facing reassures the community that people who commit such crimes, regardless of the position they hold, will always be brought to justice.
"Our thoughts are with the people who have been directly affected by his abhorrent behaviour."
