Vigilante warned over '˜paedophile hunter' stings

By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Feb 2016, 06:00 BST
A self-styled 'paedophile hunter' has been told that his actions are putting criminal prosecutions at risk. Picture posed by modelA self-styled 'paedophile hunter' has been told that his actions are putting criminal prosecutions at risk. Picture posed by model
A self-styled 'paedophile hunter' has been told that his actions are putting criminal prosecutions at risk. Picture posed by model
A VIGILANTE '˜paedophile hunter' has been warned his actions could leave police struggling to bring suspected criminals to justice.

Shane Brannigan poses as underage girls online and talks to men before arranging to meet them for sex and then calling in police, according to his Facebook page.

The News understands he is due to carry out stings in Portsmouth this week. He has already filmed a man being arrested at Asda in Fratton on Sunday.

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But Hampshire police have said any vigilante action could be breaking the law and diverts resources away from investigating child sex abuse.

On his Facebook page, Mr Brannigan posted: ‘People think by posting the stuff I do, it causes a mischief for trials.

‘I don’t care much for convictions, a conviction is just a little brucey!

‘Public exposure is far more a sentence than 12 months and all traces removed from the net.’