Vigilante group trap online sexual predator staying in Sutherland port
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A sexual predator was caught in an online sting while staying at a Kinlochbervie bed and breakfast.
Stuart Barraclough (64), sent indecent messages and a sexual image to a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl called Amy.
But in reality he had fallen into a trap set by vigilante group Maximum Exposure, members of which later turned up at his door and livestreamed the ensuing confrontation onto their Facebook page.
At Tain Sheriff Court today, Barraclough, of Lord Hay’s Grove, Old Aberdeen, admitted sending the messages and image on various occasions between March 18-22 at the bed and breakfast establishment in the port.
The charge states he sent them for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification or of humiliating, distressing and alarming the recipient.
Barraclough originally appeared under solemn procedure but the case was later reduced to a summary complaint.
Procurator fiscal Roderick Urquhart said: “There is a group who call themselves Maximum Exposure - I have not come across them before.
“One of them put up a profile under the name Amy and used a child’s photograph.
“The accused contacted her saying ‘Hello Honey’ and she replied, and at one point wrote: ‘I am just getting ready for bed. I am only 14’.
“This was acknowledged, and the chat continued and it was three days later that the accused sent a photograph which purported to be of his own genitals”.
Mr Urquhart continued: “I have encountered a group which does things like this, and once all the information is assembled, they take it to police.
“But this particular group is not like that. They turned up at his house on March 22 and challenged him. He admitted that it was him and said he was sorry.
“But not content with that, they livestreamed the whole thing on their Facebook account and did not report it to police until they had given the maximum exposure.”
Sheriff Gary Aitken said at this point: “One way of keeping them away from your door is not to send indecent images to underage girls.”
He deferred sentence for the preparation of Criminal Justice social work reports and an assessment as to Barraclough’s suitability for the Moving Forward Making Changes programme – an intensive treatment programme for sex offenders.
Sheriff Aitken added: “In addition given the nature of the charge you will now be subject on an interim basis to the Sex Offenders Registration Scheme.” Bail was continued.
A plea of mitigation will be given when the case calls on January 11.
