Tony Bonner

Tony Bonner

62, Male Custodial - 4y 2026-04-17

South Shields, Tyne and Wear

Offender ID: 153b1e0b-2cea-4307-9c0f-4fbe4f7c07f2

Offence Summary

Tony Bonner arranged to watch the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl via live stream online and possessed indecent images of children. He was arrested in June 2024 and sentenced to four years in prison at Newcastle Crown Court.

Full Description

Tony Bonner, a 62-year-old man from South Shields, engaged in online communications in 2023 with an individual he believed had access to children overseas, arranging to view live streams of their sexual abuse and potentially meet them in person. Unbeknownst to Bonner, he was interacting with an undercover police officer as part of an investigation conducted by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).

The investigation led to a coordinated strike operation, resulting in Bonner's arrest in June 2024 by NEROCU officers, supported by Northumbria Police. During the arrest, authorities seized electronic devices from his possession, which contained indecent photographs and videos of children, providing substantial evidence to support the charges against him.

Bonner was charged with arranging the commission of a child sex offence and possession of indecent images of a child. Confronted with the overwhelming evidence, he pleaded guilty to all charges. On Friday, 17 April 2026, Bonner appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, where he was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and received a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Lee Robertson, involved in the case, commented on the sentencing, stating: 'The vile actions of Bonner were clear and thanks to the dedicated work of officers he is now behind bars and facing the consequences of his actions.' The case underscores the effectiveness of online undercover operations in combating child sexual exploitation.

Location

City: South Shields

County: Tyne and Wear

Case Details

Police Force: North East Regional Organised Crime Unit

Sentence Length: 4 years (Custodial)

Expected Release: December 2028
Guideline: two-thirds served for sentences ≥4 years; half otherwise (England & Wales). Estimates only.

Full Sentence End: April 2030
If served in full. Estimates only.

Name heritage (predicted origin)

Country: United Kingdom

Confidence: 95%

Special Thanks

A huge thank you to North East Regional Organised Crime Unit for their tireless dedication in bringing this offender to justice. Your commitment and hard work truly help keep our communities safe, and we are deeply grateful.

Source: rocu.police.uk

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