A former member of the armed forces has told how his life was destroyed after being targeted by a vigilante paedophile hunter. The man, using the name Peter, was accused of trying to meet a 15-year-old for sex after a sting operation by a group called Daemon Hunter. He insists he believed he was meeting an 18-year-old and left when he learned her true age.
Peter said he lost his job, home, and family after the encounter was filmed and posted online. He received death threats and his wife attempted suicide. Staffordshire police reviewed the case and found no evidence to prosecute, but the damage was done. More than 5,000 people viewed the video, and Peter has since moved to the other side of the country.
Another victim, Sam from the West Midlands, was beaten to the ground after a Nuneaton-based vigilante known as Stinson Hunter posted a video accusing him of grooming an 11-year-old. Sam said he was chatting on Badoo and believed the person was an adult. He avoided meeting but was still publicly named and received kill threats.
Police have warned that such vigilante stings can ruin innocent lives and are urging groups to stop. The phenomenon has grown rapidly on social media, with groups like Daemon Hunter and Stinson Hunter posting videos of their confrontations. While some targets have been convicted, police say the practice is dangerous and undermines proper investigations.
