Meet Dark Justice: The London pair ambushing paedophiles

A PAIR of London mates ambush paedophiles and capture the moment on film. They call themselves Dark Justice and their work has put at least 12 sex offenders behind bars. WATCH THE VIDEO

A PAIR of mates who ambushed a paedophile and captured the moment on film say it’s all part of a bigger plan to send a message to sex offenders.

Scott, 24, and Callum, 21, posed as 14-year-old “Amanda” in an online chat room. Inside they came across David Hanson, 45, who started a conversation.

The dialogue quickly became sexual in nature before Hanson asked for Amanda’s number. The parties agreed to meet but in Amanda’s place were Scott, Callum and a camera.

Hanson, from Newcastle in the UK, was confused and at a loss for words. He was so overwhelmed by the situation he fainted and collapsed to his knees.

The footage was filmed in July last year and released this week. It followed more than 750 messages exchanged between Hanson and Amanda.

Hanson pleaded guilty to child grooming and has since been jailed for eight months.

Scott and Callum, whose names have been changed to protect their identity, say the 45-year-old is the latest victim of a vigilante sting operation they call Dark Justice.

Speaking with news.com.au, the London-based duo say they’ve been abused, spat on and threatened, but nothing will make them stop.

“The response we get is different every time,” Scott said. “A few have done a runner but soon got caught.”

Dark Justice, founded in 2014, describes itself online as a “two-man operation ... conducting investigations”. The group says it never encourages sexual chat or sexual behaviour but when asked to meet, always choose a public place where “we know we can control what’s going on”.

They contact police ahead of the meeting, confront the person with cameras and ask them about their intentions.

When a person is arrested, Scott and Callum follow police to the station to make official statements and hand over evidence.

David Hanson was sentenced to eight months in prison for child grooming offences. Picture: YouTube

Since 2014, they say they have confronted 46 people, 19 of which have been convicted of child grooming offences. Of the 19 convictions, 12 have gone to prison and seven were handed suspended sentences.

They say it started when they noticed police numbers were dwindling.

“It all started after a discussion between us both after more government cuts to the police and those organisations who are there to protect children,” Scott said.

“We set up profiles on social media sites or teen dating/chat sites and wait for people to contact us. Once they do, they’re told the profile is of a child — 11-15 years old. If they then continue to talk and get sexual, a meeting is normally arranged and we have them arrested.”

Before David Hanson, there was Barry Scott. Scott was sentenced to 12 months in prison for child grooming offences after attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl. He was actually speaking to Scott and Callum.

In text messages shared by Dark Justice, Scott tells the teen he will buy vodka and condoms, but only if that’s OK with her.

Barry Scott thought he was talking to a 14-year-old girl. He was later confronted by Dark Justice.

“Be going out later, get few things,” he writes.

“Ohhh what ya getting me hahahah,” the pair respond.

“Mmm vodka an (sic) maybe condoms ... That ok?”

Later he asks the teen if she is setting him up.

“Just hope u not trapping me lol ... wid cops?” he writes.

“Haha I hate em so nope defo no cops,” they respond.

When Scott and Callum confront the 50-year-old on Newcastle’s Millennium bridge, he denies his name is Barry.

“You knew this girl was underage,” Callum says. “She told you she was at school ... that was me you were talking to. At the end of the day what you’ve done is you’ve talked to a 14-year-old girl.”

Clearly caught out, Scott responds: “Fair enough, but the thing is it’s a social network ... I’ve made a mistake.”

Asked if he planned to have sex with the teen, he said: “If she agreed, maybe.”

Dark Justice told news.com.au their relationship with police is the same as that of any other citizen.

“They will never condone what we do but they can’t stop us,” Scott said.

“We feel amazing that it shows we’re doing the right thing and sends a powerful message. We’re just fighting for the rights of children and for change. We never asked for this, we were forced to step up and do this by the actions of our government.”