He was sentenced to 11 years and four months in Shrewsbury Crown Court.
Tomlinson had worked as a Police Community Support Officer for about nine years when the offenses came to light during an inquiry into separate matters by West Mercia police’s anti-corruption unit.
Judge Robin Onions told Tomlinson he had caused “immeasurable harm” and the offenses required a significant degree of planning.
The judge told him: “I am satisfied on the basis of the psychiatric report, on the basis of the pre-sentence report and on my own assessment of this case, that you are dangerous. I consider you to be a significant risk of serious harm.”
He said Tomlinson had a “trusted and important job in the community” but these offenses had “absolutely no link” to his job.
Tomlinson had been arrested for an unrelated matter on November 13 last year, and as part of that investigation his mobile phone was seized. On the phone were a number of images showing him engaging in sexual acts with a child, and a dog.
This afternoon West Mercia Police Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cullen said: “While none of these offenses 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 offenses 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.”