Colin Sutton has been forced to scale back on his schedule following a furious reaction from the public who did not accept his claim he could carry out the performances - three quarters of which are scheduled on weekday evenings - in his "spare time".

He appears to blame the EDP for the strong criticism he has faced from members of the public over his decision to go on tour and accused it – without evidence – of having a history of antagonism to the police and Reform.

The commissioner has claimed he is a victim of a "pile-on" (Image: Facebook)

He has declined to speak with the newspaper but told the BBC: “There's a newspaper which in my view has a long history of being antagonistic towards Norfolk Constabulary and to Reform UK and I'm in a section of those two things so I expected to be a target for them.

“They’ve caused this pile-on of similar thinking people which doesn't bother me too much.”

Political opponents have criticised his response as petulant and told him to “stop playing the victim”.

The former Met Detective’s tour plans have unravelled spectacularly since they emerged on Friday.

Mr Sutton with Nigel Farage at a rally this summer (Image: Joe Giddens)

Under the exhausting schedule, Mr Sutton was due to perform every two and half days, with 72pc of his one-man, true crime Makings of a Murderer shows due to be on a weekday.

Several stretches on the £40-a-ticket tour would require Mr Sutton to travel up to 700 miles in less than a week, with venues spanning England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as the Channel Islands.

The Reform politician initially insisted the tour would be carried out in his spare time with no impact on his £79,000-a-year, taxpayer-funded job, which he started two months ago.

This defence was ridiculed, however, and on Monday afternoon Mr Sutton announced he was in talks with his promoter about reducing his commitments.

Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday morning, Mr Sutton said the tour would be cut back or cancelled completely.

“I'm talking with the promoter as to whether or not we just cancel it entirely, or whether we drastically curtail it,” he said.

“So rather than doing something like 8........

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