EDINBURGH PAEDOPHILE AND DRUG DEALER LEE NESS CONVICTED AFTER ONLINE STING
In March 2019, Lee Ness, a 42-year-old from Edinburgh, was confronted by a paedophile hunting group after he sent inappropriate messages to a fake online profile posing as a 13-year-old girl.Ness initially reached out to a social media account he believed belonged to a teenage girl named Millie Thomas, and during the illicit conversations, he asked if she masturbated and encouraged her to watch pornographic material.
Unbeknownst to Ness, the account was created by Wolf Pack Hunters UK, an online vigilante group dedicated to exposing sex offenders.
The group members showed up at Ness’s Edinburgh residence last March, confronting him directly about his online activity.
Shortly thereafter, police arrived at the scene after being alerted by the vigilantes.
Upon entering Ness’s home, officers detected a strong smell indicating the presence of a cannabis plantation.
They discovered 167 grams of cannabis, three live plants, two sets of scales, and resealable bags.
Phone evidence also indicated Ness was involved in selling cannabis, with total drug values estimated at £2,420.
Ness admitted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to contacting what he believed was a 13-year-old girl and to sending her indecent messages, from an address at Corslet Place, Edinburgh, between February 1 and March 23 of the previous year.
He also pleaded guilty to being involved in the sale of cannabis to others.
The online group had set up various accounts using the name Millie Thomas in an effort to lure and identify local sex offenders.
Prosecutor Katy Murray explained that the sexual conversations began in February last year via Skype and WhatsApp, with Ness claiming to be 39 and the 'girl' claiming to be 13.
During the exchanges, Ness asked whether she 'played with herself' and encouraged her to watch porn online.
The vigilante group live streamed the confrontation via Facebook on March 23, 2019, which attracted police attention.
When officers arrived, they found Ness’s face covered with a scarf, and he welcomed them into his home.
The police investigation confirmed his involvement in both illegal activities.
Sheriff Frank Crowe placed Ness on the sex offenders register for an unspecified period and deferred sentencing to allow for preparation of reports.
Ness was found guilty of communicating indecently with what he believed was a minor and of supplying cannabis from his Edinburgh home.
