Paedophile hunters confront man in city
A MAN has been arrested after being confronted by a group of paedophile hunters near Leicester railway station.
Police say the 48-year-old was detained by colleagues from British Transport Police at 5pm on Monday in Station Street, round the corner from the main entrance on London Road.
The arrest was made following a sting carried out by a group of online vigilantes.
One witness to the confrontation told the Mercury: “There were six or seven lads there with their phones up filming this guy.
“One of them had a folder and was asking him loads of questions.
“Initially he was telling them to do one but then he started to answer.
“They did a sort of citizen’s arrest but the police were also there and took the guy away.”
The witness added: “I asked one on them what was going on and they said they were paedophile hunters from West Yorkshire.
“I said I’d buy them a pint but they said they were in a rush to get elsewhere.”
A police spokesman said: “A 48-year-old man remains in custody following a report of online grooming.
“The man, from North Yorkshire, was arrested in Station Street by colleagues from British Transport Police shortly after 5pm (Monday 10 May).
“He was arrested on suspicion of attempting to arrange/facilitate the commission of a child sex offence.”