LARNE FARMER NEILL HUNTER CAUGHT IN PAEDOPHILE HUNTER STING

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Larne, a 55-year-old farmer named Neill Hunter found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving child sexual exploitation. Hunter, a known supporter of Rangers FC, was caught in a sting operation conducted by a group of paedophile hunters who had been monitoring his online activities.

It was during this operation that Hunter believed he was engaging in explicit conversations with a 15-year-old boy. In reality, he was communicating with a decoy from the vigilante group, who had posed as a teenage male named Lee. Over the course of a week in April, Hunter sent a series of sexually explicit messages, including detailed descriptions of sexual acts he claimed he would perform when they met. He also asked the decoy to wear his mother’s underwear during their planned encounter, which he suggested at Larne Train Station.

When Hunter arrived at the station on the evening of April 30th, he was confronted by the decoy, who recorded the encounter and shared it online. Hunter then drove away from the scene, but not before police were alerted. The decoy provided police with all relevant materials, including footage and his phone, which confirmed Hunter’s intentions and actions. Interestingly, Hunter’s phone was also found to contain three images of extreme pornography, which he claimed were sent to him as a joke, citing his occupation as a farmer as the reason for receiving such material.

During police questioning, Hunter denied any sexual interest in children and insisted that he had no intention of engaging in any sexual activity with the decoy. He also reported that he had made a report to the police himself, claiming he was approached at the train station by an unknown male who said he was making a citizen’s arrest for meeting a 15-year-old for sex.

At an earlier court hearing, Hunter pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, attempting to engage a child in sexual communication, and possessing extreme pornography, all committed between April 23 and April 30 of last year. The prosecution highlighted that Hunter’s actions clearly constituted child sexual abuse, a point emphasized by District Judge Francis Rafferty during sentencing.

On Tuesday at Antrim Magistrates’ Court, Hunter was sentenced to four months in prison. However, the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he will not serve time unless he commits another offence within that period. Additionally, the judge imposed a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which restricts Hunter’s activities and contact with minors. The judge expressed concern over Hunter’s denial of the severity of his actions, stating, “Let’s be clear, that’s precisely what they are and the fact that you are in a degree of denial about your behaviour gives me concern that a probation order is of little import.”

When approached at his home in Larne, Hunter confirmed his identity but declined to comment further, simply stating, “I have nothing to say about that, I don’t want to talk about it, it’s over.” He described himself as “an idiot” when pressed about his conduct, acknowledging his mistake in a brief, remorseful tone. As part of the court’s ruling, Hunter was also ordered to register as a sex offender with the police, a measure intended to monitor and restrict his future activities.

This case has raised serious concerns about online safety and the risks posed by individuals with predatory intentions, especially in small communities like Larne. Authorities continue to warn the public about the dangers of online interactions and the importance of vigilance in protecting minors from exploitation.