KIEREN ASHBY FROM DUNFERMLINE SENTENCED FOR HARASSMENT OF WEST OF SCOTLAND JOURNALIST

A well-known figure from Dunfermline, Kieren Ashby, who gained notoriety as a paedophile hunter and was popularly known by the alias Stinson Hunter, recently appeared before Hamilton Sheriff Court to face charges related to aggressive harassment directed at a journalist from the West of Scotland. The court proceedings revealed that Ashby, aged 43 and residing on Iona Road in Dunfermline, had engaged in a targeted stalking campaign that caused significant fear and distress to the victim.

According to court reports, Ashby had urged his large online following to target the journalist, who expressed concerns for her personal safety. This campaign of harassment took place in January 2023 and was characterized by threatening messages and online abuse. The court heard that Ashby’s actions had a profound impact on the journalist, prompting her to take measures such as changing her vehicle to avoid recognition and having her work duties altered by her employer to prevent any potential confrontations.

In sentencing, Sheriff Louise Gallacher imposed several penalties on Ashby. These included a 12-month period of social work supervision, an eight-month electronic tagging order that restricts his movements between 7 pm and 7 am, and a non-harassment order that prohibits him from any contact with the victim for a period of five years. The court emphasized the seriousness of his conduct, which involved inciting his followers to threaten and intimidate the journalist.

The case also shed light on Ashby’s controversial past. It was revealed that he had previously been involved in a paedophile sting operation in 2013, which tragically resulted in the death of a victim. The individual, who had confronted and filmed a man believing him to be a paedophile, later took their own life after police questioned them. Court documents indicated that Ashby, then living in Warwickshire, had posed as a child online and arranged meetings with a man, actions that drew criticism from law enforcement and attracted significant media attention.

During the recent court hearing, it was disclosed that Ashby had accused the journalist of alleging that she supported paedophiles and had also released his personal information online. This led to a wave of online threats and hate messages from Ashby’s supporters, many of whom followed his Facebook page, which boasts over 550,000 followers. The court was informed that Ashby had actively encouraged his followers to harass the journalist, with one supporter even expressing an intention to confront her at her home.

In response, the journalist described experiencing considerable distress, including the need to change her vehicle and be reassigned work duties to avoid potential threats. Ashby’s legal representative argued that his client had attempted to keep his personal details private after previous threats and claimed that his recent behavior was out of character, citing deteriorating mental health as a factor. Sheriff Gallacher acknowledged the gravity of Ashby’s actions but also noted his remorse and the absence of recent offending since 2013. Ultimately, she opted for a combination of supervision and restrictions rather than imprisonment, taking into account his past trauma and the fact that he had not committed any offenses recently.