How paedophile hunters ‘snared’ Mayor aged 29
THE Mayor of Peterlee has been charged with trying to meet an under-aged boy following sexual grooming after an investigation by paedophile hunters.
Councillor Lee Cook, 29, had been communicating with what he thought was a 15-year-old boy and arranged to meet him, according to vigilantes Guardians of the North.
But when Cook allegedly turned up at the agreed time in Peterlee, County Durham, on Saturday evening he was instead confronted by members of the group and arrested. The paedophile hunters say they had no idea their decoy had been talking to the Mayor of Peterlee, the youngest to hold the office in the town’s history.
One group member, who uses the name Joe, said: ‘He was very upset when he realised who we were.
‘He was only 29 and we had no idea he was a mayor, he seemed too young. Then people started messaging us on Facebook to let us know. We were astounded. I thought, “God, I can’t believe we have been dealing with someone in such a public role”.’
Cook resigned as mayor and as a councillor yesterday and was also due to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court. Vigilante groups were urged last week by Detective Superintendent Steven Woollett, of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, to leave paedophile hunting to the police.
Mr Woollett said: ‘ Much as they may be well intended, there is the potential to hinder police investigations.’
Cook was a member of The North East Party. A party spokesman said: ‘We have no prior knowledge or information about this matter and have acted immediately to suspend the person concerned.’