Mums tell how they became ‘paedophile vigilantes’ to snare pervs trying to meet kids
TWO mums spoke out about their decision to hunt down paedophiles after they felt the police were not doing enough to catch them.
The pair went on Good Morning Britain to tell all about their experiences of paedophile hunting, and explained the techniques they use to snare those people who are trying to talk to and meet up with children.
The women kept their identity a secret as they wore black hooded tops during the interview.
They kept their back to the camera as they spoke about their work, including catching Nathan Watson, 43, who lured his 'young target' with online messages and sent her a photo of his penis as well as calling her "baby" when she told him her junior age.
They said: "We set the operation up because we didn't feel the police were doing enough."
They continued: "We would put a historical picture up in a chat room and wait for these people to talk with us.
"Everything is left down to them, the balls in their court. We wait for them to approach us with a meet. Several times we have handed over information to police and in all fairness there is no follow up."
But the 'girl' turned out to be a decoy and Watson was spooked and didn't show up - so the women hunters knocked on his door and confronted him.
A clip of the sting shows the moment the 'investigators' approach him in Bristol where he agrees to go outside to discuss the photos and messages he sent the 'girl'.
After confirming his name he claims he wasn't going to meet the girl because he "had a feeling it was a bit dodge".
He goes on to tell the two women from 'Internet Interceptors' he thought the girl he was messaging was "quite young - 16 or 17".
But they then appear to show him messages where the decoy tells him she is aged 11 and a reply where he wrote: "That's OK baby".
They then go on to accuse him of arranging to meet a 13-year-old in London previously and he replies: "S**t."
One woman then tells him: "It's a bit ironic that you live across from a play park".
But he answers "I'm not a - " before he stops short.
The woman replies: "Go on, say the words 'I'm not a paedophile'..... Go on, make my day."
The line was made famous when spoken by Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry character in the 1983 film Sudden Impact.
Watson, from Bristol, then repeats "I'm not, I'm not" before calling himself "pathetic" when he admits the photos he sent were of his penis.
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He then tells them he was planning to do "charity work" in Calais in the coming days and tries to convince the women he is "a good person".
He adds: "I'm a good person believe it or not. I understand what you're looking at.
"Sometimes I don't realise the age of people of people online. I should be a bit more savvy."
The footage filmed at the hostel where Watson worked and lived was passed on to the police, who arrested him.
Watson pleaded guilty to attempting to sexually communicate with a child between July 14 and August 9, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.
Judge Michael Roach at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday adjourned the case pending a "vital" report, for sentence on September 28.
He told Bristol Crown Court: "A report is ordered with no indication as to the sentence that he might receive. Obviously custody is an obvious option."
Edward Hetherington, defending, told the court: ";A meeting was arranged.
"The decoy went but Mr Watson didn't go, he stayed at home.
"The decoy person obtained the defendant's details online, went to his home and confronted him. He admitted to her he sent messages."
Watson had been staying at a community building run by a homelessness charity near Bristol's Temple Meads Station at the time of the sting.
The charity which provides home and work for 23 people kicked Watson out following the bust.
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When questioned about why they can't involve the police earlier on in their quest the vigilante hunters said: "The easiest way for us to do it is go there and meet them, and then we instantly call the police so we know the police are on the way.
"It's really distressing as an adult, I can't imagine how a child would feel in that situation."
But a former policeman joined in the debate on Good Morning Britain and said the women were untrained and not doing all the things they could be to help the situation.
He agreed that there are not enough officers to catch paedophiles, but thought the women and other groups could be brought in for training with the police.
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