NEIL SHEARER CAUGHT IN NORTHALLERTON AND LEICESTER PAEDOPHILE STING

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming, Neil Shearer, a man originally from Northampton but who was working in Leicester at the time, was caught in a paedophile hunter operation after attempting to meet a supposed 14-year-old girl. The incident took place in Leicester, where Shearer believed he was communicating with a minor through social media, unaware that he was being monitored by vigilant members of the group S.T.O.P UK.

Shearer, who later moved to Northallerton in North Yorkshire, thought he was engaging with a young girl after accepting a friend request on Facebook. The profile he interacted with was entirely fabricated by the vigilante group, designed to lure predators into revealing their intentions. The group had set up a sting operation, with members appearing at Leicester Railway Station on Monday, May 10, last year, to confront Shearer.

Prosecutor Tom Heath explained to Leicester Crown Court that the Facebook account used by the hunters was a fictitious persona. Shearer’s messages to the fake profile revealed his intentions clearly. He initiated contact by asking, “How are you?” and was told by the profile that she was 14 years old from Derby. Shearer responded by asking if she wanted a boyfriend and whether she would like him to come to Derby or if she could meet him in Leicester, where he was working at the time.

The messages grew more explicit as Shearer expressed a desire to take care of her if she became pregnant and suggested they meet at a hotel in Wigston, near Leicester. He also mentioned bringing condoms and asked her what she would tell her mother, claiming he was 18 instead of 48. During the exchanges, he mentioned sex three times and requested a nude photograph from the girl. When she inquired about their plans at the hotel, Shearer explicitly stated they would have sex.

On the day of the planned meeting, Shearer confirmed his attendance via message and sent a photograph of himself to the account he believed belonged to the girl, so she would recognize him. At 5:30 pm, Shearer arrived at Leicester Railway Station, where he was met by members of the paedophile hunter group. The confrontation became aggressive, and witnesses, concerned for safety, called the police. The British Transport Police arrived to intervene.

During police questioning, Shearer admitted that he shouldn’t have engaged in the communication. He stated, “I shouldn’t have done it.” The man, who was 49 at the time of the incident and had no previous convictions, was formerly based in Northampton before moving to Northallerton. His mobile phone was examined, revealing no other interactions with children.

Shearer pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to meet a girl under 16 and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Judge Ebrahim Mooncey sentenced him to 12 months in prison, emphasizing the law’s role in protecting minors. The judge remarked that Shearer’s conduct was deliberate and that he believed he was talking to a 14-year-old girl, unaware that he was being monitored by a vigilante group. The court highlighted the importance of safeguarding children and young people from exploitation and predatory behavior.