NEIL PETERS OF LARKHALL SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES INVOLVING PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS IN HAMILTON

In August 2023, Neil Peters, a 64-year-old resident of Larkhall, was brought to justice after engaging in disturbing online communications with individuals he believed to be underage girls. The case unfolded when decoys from the groups Dank Dragons and Improved Maximum Exposure, operating as part of paedophile hunter initiatives, exposed Peters' illicit activities.

Initially, Peters initiated conversations on a dating platform, but these exchanges quickly devolved into discussions of a sexual nature. He expressed inappropriate sentiments towards one girl, whom he called 'Tia,' claiming he would 'marry her in a heartbeat' and be 'honoured' to be her boyfriend, despite her repeatedly informing him that she was only 13 years old. During these exchanges, Peters sent her indecent photographs of himself, warning her to keep their conversations secret to avoid getting into trouble.

In a separate interaction, Peters communicated with another girl named 'Lucy.' He described her as 'gorgeous' and demanded topless photographs from her. His predatory behavior escalated when he arranged to meet her in person. However, his plans were thwarted when a vigilante group, aware of his intentions, confronted him and streamed the encounter live on Facebook, capturing the moment for public record.

Following these events, Peters appeared before Hamilton Sheriff Court to face charges. He admitted to communicating indecently with both girls in August of the previous year. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to attempting to meet one of the girls with the intent to engage in sexual activity.

During the court proceedings, Sheriff John Speir sentenced Peters, who was identified as a first-time offender, to 18 months in prison. The court also ordered him to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years. The prosecution, led by depute fiscal Chloe O'Hara, detailed the extent of Peters' predatory behavior, including his specific plans to meet Lucy at Morrisons in Anniesland, where he intended to meet her outside the store in his white Audi, with her allegedly wearing stockings instead of tights.

The group involved in the sting, which included members of the decoy operation, attended the location the following day, contacted the police, and broadcast the confrontation live on social media. Sheriff Speir emphasized the seriousness of Peters' actions, stating that a custodial sentence was 'inevitable' given the nature of his offenses and the danger posed to minors.