KEVIN JOHNSTON CAUGHT IN FORRES IN PREDATOR STING OPERATION

In March 2021, a man from Moray, identified as Kevin Johnston, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation after attempting to engage in inappropriate online conduct involving minors. Johnston, aged 48, was targeted by a specialized paedophile hunting group that operates under the name HOPE, which stands for Hunting Online Predators Everyday.

According to reports presented at Inverness Sheriff Court, authorities executed a raid on Johnston's residence in Forres, a town in Moray. During the operation, law enforcement officers confiscated multiple electronic devices, including phones and a computer, to gather evidence related to his activities.

The investigation revealed that Johnston had attempted to solicit explicit photographs from what he believed to be underage girls. However, these girls were not real minors but were decoys employed by the HOPE group to catch individuals attempting similar crimes. The decoys' purpose was to identify and apprehend predators seeking to exploit minors online.

Further inquiries uncovered that Johnston had also tried to contact two additional targets, with efforts to trace these individuals proving unsuccessful. It remains unclear whether these targets were genuine teenage girls or other decoys, as authorities have not confirmed their identities.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, Kevin Johnston did not appear before Sheriff Elidh Macdonald for a formal hearing. The case continues to develop as investigators work to determine the full extent of his actions and any potential additional charges.