Paedo is snared by vigilantes
A PAEDOPHILE was snared by a vigilante group in Partick after arranging to meet a schoolboy online.
Mark Sutherland, 36, thought he was meeting a 13-year-old after exchanging messages on dating app Grindr.
But Sutherland was actually talking to 48-year-old Paul Devine, part of a group called Groom Resistance Scotland.
A PAEDOPHILE who believed he was going to meet a schoolboy is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being snared by a vigilante group in Partick.
Mark Sutherland, 36, started talking to James Boyle, who he thought was a 13-year-old boy, on the dating app Grindr.
They exchanged messages and sick Sutherland sent explicit pictures after being told the boy was a young teen – and even made arrangements to meet up.
But the person Sutherland was talking to was 48-yearold Paul Devine, part of group called Groom Resistance Scotland.
Another two members of the organisation turned up to Partick Bus Station on January 31 to meet Sutherland and stayed with him until police arrived.
After a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sutherland was unanimously convicted over two charges under the Sexual Offences Act between January 18 and 31, this year, including going to meet who he believed to be a 13-yearold with the intention of engaging in “unlawful sexual activity”.
In evidence, Mr Devine said he spoke to Sutherland – who has a similar previous conviction – on Grindr then they swapped numbers and texted using WhatsApp.
Messages exchanged between Mr Devine, as the teenager, and Sutherland were shown to the jury.
Pervert Sutherland was told: “I’m only 13” within the first few messages then sent an explicit photograph and asked: “You like?”
He also asked the child to send him a picture, but Mr Devine replied that his camera was smashed and wasn’t working.
After he was told again the boy’s age, Sutherland asked “Would you like to meet up some time?”
Sheriff Martin Jones QC deferred sentence until next month and remanded Sutherland in custody.
Meanwhile, police have called on vigilante groups to stop taking the law into their own hands.
It follows two so-called “stings” by another group in Barrhead and Milngavie showing group members manhandling alleged paedophiles.
In a statement, Police Scotland said: “If you think someone may be abusing children, please contact the police rather than taking the law into your own hands.
“Police Scotland is fully committed to the investigation of child abuse using all of its resources, nationally and locally, to protect Scotland’s children.
“If you are concerned that children may be at risk or suspect someone may be abusing children then please call 999 if you think there is immediate threat, or 101.”