WILLIAM BRUNE FROM HARBOUROUGH AND LOUGHBOROUGH CAUGHT IN PAEDOPHILE HUNTER STING

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing threat posed by online predators, William Brune, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses against minors, was recently apprehended after falling victim to a sting operation conducted by paedophile hunters. The incident unfolded in Loughborough, where Brune believed he was about to meet a teenage girl he had been communicating with online, but instead, he was caught in a carefully orchestrated trap designed to expose his predatory behavior.

According to court proceedings, Brune was lured by the group Confronted & Caught, which had set up fake Facebook profiles representing girls aged 13 and 17. These profiles were part of an undercover operation aimed at catching individuals seeking to engage in illegal sexual activities with minors. Prosecutor Catherine Picardo detailed how Brune had been duped into believing he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl named Maddie, to whom he had sent explicit images and a video of himself performing a sex act. He also requested that Maddie send naked photographs of herself, further demonstrating his intent to exploit a minor.

The court heard that Brune, whose address was identified as Wharncliffe Road in Loughborough, had traveled to meet the 17-year-old girl in the town, where he was promptly arrested by police officers. The paedophile hunters recorded the encounter and uploaded the footage online, which showed Brune waiting at the designated meeting spot before law enforcement arrived to take him into custody.

This case is not the first time Brune has been involved in serious sexual offenses. In 2012, he was convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl and was sentenced to four years in prison. Court records reveal that Brune had initially denied the allegations but later admitted to having had sexual intercourse with the girl after DNA evidence, including a used condom, linked him to the crime. The court also noted that Brune had sent numerous text messages instructing the girl to keep their encounters secret, indicating an attempt to conceal his actions.

Following his 2012 conviction, Brune was placed on the sex offenders register and was banned from working with children. Despite this, he continued to pose a significant risk, as evidenced by his recent online activities. In April 2019, he was caught grooming and communicating sexually with a 13-year-old girl via Facebook Live, where he sent explicit messages and videos, including self-masturbation clips. This incident was also part of the paedophile hunters' operation, which led to his arrest at the scene after he admitted to his previous conviction and expressed a need for help.

Most recently, in June 2019, Brune appeared before Leicester Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor under 16. The court was informed that Brune had sent explicit images and videos to a girl he believed to be 13 years old, and had asked her for naked photographs. His address was again noted as being in Loughborough, and the court acknowledged his prior criminal record, which included a serious sexual offense involving a 13-year-old girl in 2012.

Judge Timothy Spencer QC addressed Brune directly, condemning his actions and the consequences they had brought upon him. He stated, “You have lost your job, your accommodation, and whatever reputation you had rebuilt since being released from prison. You have thrown it all away, and for what? What you have done is deeply shameful.”

Despite the gravity of his offenses, the judge chose not to send Brune to prison immediately, citing his role as his father’s carer. Instead, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. The court also ordered Brune to be placed on the sex offenders register and banned him from working with children in the future. The sentence was met with emotional reactions from Brune’s family, who were visibly distressed as the verdict was announced, underscoring the profound impact of his actions on those close to him.