PAUL HAWLEY FROM RETFORD CAUGHT IN ONLINE STING AND WALKED FREE FROM COURT

In June 2017, a man from Retford named Paul Hawley became the subject of a high-profile online sting operation conducted by an vigilante group known as Predator Hunters. Hawley, aged 40, was ultimately brought before Nottingham Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to multiple child sex offences, including two counts of attempting sexual communication with a minor and one count of attempting to meet a child following grooming activities.

Predator Hunters, an organization operating under the premise of posing as underage girls aged 13 and 14, claimed responsibility for Hawley's capture. The group’s members engaged in online chats with Hawley, during which they alleged he arranged to meet a 14-year-old girl. However, law enforcement officers and the vigilantes were waiting for him at the designated meeting point, effectively catching him in the act.

Following the court proceedings on June 22, Hawley was sentenced to a 14-month jail term, which was suspended for two years. The court also imposed additional conditions, including a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Furthermore, Hawley was subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, placed on the sex offenders register for a decade, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £140.

In response to the sentencing, Predator Hunters publicly condemned the court’s decision, describing the sentence as “absolutely disgusting” and “a joke.” The group also shared a section of chat logs on social media, purportedly illustrating a sexually explicit conversation between Hawley and a person posing as a 13-year-old girl. The logs included disturbing exchanges involving references to tights and sexual activities, with the group claiming these messages were from Hawley.

One of the messages from the fake 13-year-old read: “what even at my age 13,” to which the group alleges Hawley responded: “never tried it with young las befor why wud u try it.”

Hawley’s case highlights ongoing concerns about online grooming and the efforts of vigilante groups to combat child exploitation. The Predator Hunters organization states that their mission is to gather evidence against paedophiles and assist in their prosecution. They claim their work has received commendation from police forces and emphasize their commitment to confidentiality and victim support, whether the abuse is recent or historical.