Vigilante ordered to quit paedophile hunter group over innocent pensioner

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 19:44 · Archive

Cameron Thomson, 22, has been sentenced for wrongly accusing a vulnerable pensioner of being a sex offender and inciting a mob to his home.

Cameron Thomson, 22, founder of the Awareness Protection online group, has been sentenced at Airdrie Sheriff Court for harassing an innocent 70-year-old man in a case of mistaken identity. In April, Thomson posted the man's name and address on social media, falsely claiming he was a convicted sex offender imprisoned for five years for child rape. He livestreamed the post on Facebook and actively encouraged members of the community to attend the man's address. Thomson then travelled to the Cumbernauld property with between 50 and 70 people. He repeatedly banged on the front door, shouting abuse including 'dirty scumbag' and calling the householder a 'paedophile' and a 'beast'.

Police were called and found the man in a state of confusion and distress. Officers established that Thomson had misidentified the man, who had no convictions or allegations relating to sexual offending and was not a registered sex offender. When informed of the error, Thomson became hostile and told the crowd that police were 'protecting a beast'. The victim, described as vulnerable with additional support needs, was forced to leave his home permanently. A sheriff described Thomson's actions as a 'carefully orchestrated confrontation' with a 'catastrophic' effect on the victim.

Thomson pleaded guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner. He was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and placed on a two-year community payback order. He was also issued a 15-year non-harassment order protecting the victim and banned from livestreaming events, helping others to do so, and from organising or taking part in protests involving approaching or confronting individuals. Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Smith said Thomson had sought to 'take the law into his own hands' believing he was protecting the public.

How it is being reported

• Vigilante group organiser sentenced after targeting innocent pensionerThe organiser of an online child abuse vigilante group has been ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work after admitting to harassing an innocent 70-year-old man in a case of mistaken identity.The Herald · 8 Oct, 19:26
• Vigilante ordered to quit paedophile hunter group after targeting innocent OAPA vigilante who wrongly accused a vulnerable pensioner of being a child rapist has been ordered to quit his post as leader of a group of paedophile huntersGlasgow Times · 8 Oct, 17:36

In this story: Cameron Thomson · James Taylor · Awareness Protection · Cumbernauld · Airdrie Sheriff Court

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