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13/05/2015
Man Attacked By 'Paedophile Hunters' Jailed For Grooming
A man who was attacked by so-called vigilante paedophile hunters has been jailed for 12 months.
Andrew O'Neill, 25, of Castlehey, Skelmersdale, contacted police on Saturday 18 April to report being assaulted at Market Place in Wigan.
Two men where arrested in connection with an assault on Mr O'Neill, however, they claimed that O'Neill was in Wigan to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl he had groomed online.
Mr O'Neill pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a girl under 16, and was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to one year in jail, and ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for 10 years.
Detective Inspector Martin Reddington of Wigan division said: "O'Neill was targeted because he had illegally arranged to meet up with an underage girl online.
"We do not condone vigilante action; it is dangerous and anyone with concerns about grooming should always report it to police.
"Grooming and arranging to meet up with children you have met over the internet is a criminal offence and if you are caught doing this you will be arrested and prosecuted."
(MH/CD)
Andrew O'Neill, 25, of Castlehey, Skelmersdale, contacted police on Saturday 18 April to report being assaulted at Market Place in Wigan.
Two men where arrested in connection with an assault on Mr O'Neill, however, they claimed that O'Neill was in Wigan to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl he had groomed online.
Mr O'Neill pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a girl under 16, and was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to one year in jail, and ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for 10 years.
Detective Inspector Martin Reddington of Wigan division said: "O'Neill was targeted because he had illegally arranged to meet up with an underage girl online.
"We do not condone vigilante action; it is dangerous and anyone with concerns about grooming should always report it to police.
"Grooming and arranging to meet up with children you have met over the internet is a criminal offence and if you are caught doing this you will be arrested and prosecuted."
(MH/CD)
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