A group of self-proclaimed paedophile hunters from Derby say they have snared a man who they allege intended to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.

But the girl did not really exist and was actually an online decoy used by the group to trap potential paedophiles and prevent harm to actual children.

The Children’s Innocence Matters Facebook group set up a fake profile for the girl on a popular social media website.

The group claims that the 28-year-old man was in Pear Tree Road, Derby, near midnight on Friday, January 4. They say that he believed he would be meeting a 14-year-old female for sexual activity.

He was instead confronted by the Children’s Innocence Matters team, aided by another group of self-styled paedophile hunters called Dirty Online Predators Exposed.

The man denied any involvement in the allegations and police arrived to arrest him that evening. His identity has been disguised for legal reasons.

Derby man snared who allegedly tried to meet with a young girl.
Derby man confronted allegedly trying to meet underage girl

A Derbyshire police spokesperson said: “Officers arrested a 28-year-old man from Derby on suspicion of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The arrest took place on January 4 in Derby.

“The man has been interviewed and released under investigation as enquiries continue.”




