JOHN ROBINSON CAUGHT IN SOUTHAMPTON PAEDOPHILE HUNTING STING
In March 2018, a man from Southampton found himself in serious legal trouble after falling victim to a vigilant group of self-styled paedophile hunters.The incident unfolded when John Robinson, believing he was about to meet a 13-year-old girl named 'Phoebe', arrived at a Sainsbury's store located on Bitterne Road.
Unbeknownst to him, he was about to be confronted by members of SKID, a well-known online community dedicated to exposing potential predators.
The group’s member, Alex Westgarth, was the one who approached Robinson at the scene.
Acting under the guise of a minor, Westgarth executed a citizen’s arrest, recorded the entire encounter on video, and subsequently shared the footage with a network of more than 20,000 followers across social media platforms.
This public exposure was part of SKID’s ongoing efforts to combat online grooming and protect children from exploitation.
Southampton Crown Court was informed that Robinson’s online activity began with his registration on an adult dating website called 'Mingle'.
Within just a day of Westgarth creating a fake profile for 'Phoebe', which featured a profile picture of someone clearly underage, Robinson had sent a friend request.
Prosecutor Nicholas Tucker detailed that Robinson had initiated contact by messaging 'Phoebe', claiming he was single, had no children, and was 47 years old.
The profile responded by stating that she was only 13 years old.
The court heard that Robinson’s conversations with the fake 'Phoebe' quickly turned more intimate.
He asked her to send a photograph of herself, and after exchanging images—Robinson sending his own—he continued to pursue the interaction, even requesting another picture just days before Christmas.
As their exchanges grew more sexual in nature, Robinson expressed a desire to meet her in person, suggesting they should go out for food in Bitterne.
Just moments before his planned meeting, Robinson sent a message to 'Phoebe' indicating he had arrived at the location.
It was at this point that Westgarth, acting on behalf of SKID, confronted him.
Robinson was unaware that he was about to be caught in a sting operation designed to catch potential predators.
During the court proceedings, Berenice Mulvanny, representing Robinson, provided context about his background.
She explained that Robinson, originally from York and later residing in Fareham before moving to Southampton, had been struggling with the emotional aftermath of losing his fiancée and first girlfriend in a motorcycle accident in 2016.
Mulvanny described him as a 'lonely man' who faced mental health and learning difficulties.
Robinson, residing on Rossington Avenue in Bitterne, pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child under 18 into sexual activity.
The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to combat online grooming and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.
