Pete Townshend [ tickets ], who was arrested earlier this month on child-porn charges, claims he has evidence that backs up his contention that he visited child-porn websites for research purposes.

Townshend claimed at the time of his arrest that he had been in contact with the Internet Watch Foundation--a U.K. organization that works to minimize the availability of illegal content on the Internet--several times last year, but the IWF initially denied that claim.

The IWF now confirms that Townshend had, in fact, been in communication.

"The IWF was the correct body for Pete to approach but since some of the media have reported the fact that the IWF denied receiving any communication from him we thought it was important that this updated information was published," the foundation said in a statement on its website.

The organization said that it previously denied the contact with Townshend because he hadn't explicitly given it permission to release the information. "Because of the provisions of the Data Protection Act, we are unable to comment or disclose information about the personal details of individuals who make reports to us unless they give their permission."

Townshend, in a statement posted on his official website, said: "You may recall that among the media frenzy of a couple of weeks ago, representatives of the Internet Watch Foundation told the press and the news stations that they had never heard from me. I, of course, know that I did communicate with them several times last year and they have now supplied to us copies of my e-mails to them, one in August and the rest in November. My lawyers have written to the Founder of the IWF, Mark Stephens, who was adamant that they had never heard from me, asking for an explanation."

According to British press reports, it is legal to view child pornography for "legitimate" reasons in the U.K.

Townshend admitted in a statement issued last month that he viewed child pornography as research for his autobiography. He said he suspects that he was abused as a child. "I cannot remember clearly what happened, but my creative work tends to throw up nasty shadows--particularly in 'Tommy,'" the statement said. "Some of the things I have seen on the Internet have informed my book which I hope will be published later this year."

London police arrested and questioned Townshend on Jan. 13 on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children. They seized two computers during a four-hour search of his home.

No charges have been filed against Townshend, though police are expected to question him further sometime in February.