Former MI6 employee. He wrote the book "The Big Breach" which told of his time in MI6. He was also linked to a web page that revealed the names of MI6 agents around the world.
Tomlinson was dismissed from MI6, he claims unfairly, and he wrote the book as a protest.
Tomlinson spent a considerable time as a fugitive in New Zealand but was finally arrested by MI6 in August 1998 whilst boarding a flight to Australia.
At the Old Bailey Tomlinson pleaded guilty to unlawful disclosure of information under the Official Secrets Act and was sentenced to 2 years in gaol.