OXFORD PAEDOPHILE LEE MIDDLETON CAUGHT BY VIGILANTE GROUP IN SHOCKING STING
In a significant crackdown on online predators, Lee Middleton, a 40-year-old man from Oxford, was apprehended after attempting to meet what he believed were underage girls he had been communicating with online.The incident was orchestrated by a vigilant group known as Stinson Hunter, which employs decoys posing as teenagers to identify and catch potential abusers.
Middleton, residing in Moorbank, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was actively engaging with members of this group through the Bandoo messenger service during August of the previous year.
Prosecutor Matthew Walsh detailed that Middleton initially believed he was in contact with a 13-year-old girl named Jodie.
During their conversations, he sent explicit images of himself and arranged to meet her in Nuneaton, a plan that was ultimately thwarted.
When Middleton arrived at the designated meeting spot, he was confronted by members of the vigilante group, who had been monitoring his online activity.
They filmed the encounter and subsequently handed over evidence to the police, leading to his arrest.
A video posted on YouTube captures Middleton being questioned by the group, where he is asked if he believes his actions are acceptable.
His response was a dismissive, “No comment, I’ve got nothing to say to you mate.” Further investigations revealed that while on bail, Middleton attempted to contact another girl, whom he believed to be 15 years old.
However, the vigilantes again intercepted his plans and involved law enforcement authorities.
Middleton eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and one count of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Ian Pringle acknowledged that although there was no actual victim in this case, Middleton’s repeated attempts to meet minors demonstrated his dangerous intent.
The judge imposed a sexual offences prevention order and mandated that Middleton be registered as a sex offender for at least ten years.
Following the sentencing, Stinson Hunter, the founder of the vigilante group, expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
He stated, “When he turned up, he was unrepentant.
He is a dangerous guy and that’s a really good result.
I am really quite chuffed.
It is the best result we have had.” Hunter explained that the group creates fake profiles as underage girls and waits for predators to initiate contact.
In Middleton’s case, he continued communicating despite being informed of their true age and even sent explicit images.
Hunter also highlighted that the group had engaged with men from Oxfordshire and other areas, posing as underage girls online.
Middleton was the only individual to agree to meet in person.
He emphasized the dangers of the internet, urging parents to monitor their children’s online activities to prevent exploitation by predators lurking in digital spaces.
