Private schoolboy vigilantes trap men in online ‘pedophile sting’
A group of vigilante private school teens allegedly used dating apps to lure men into underage sex hook-ups as part of a trap to expose them on social media. Watch the video.
Police & Courts
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A group of vigilante private school teens allegedly used dating apps to lure men into underage sex hook-ups as part of a trap to expose them on social media.
The stings have resulted in police charging three of the men with child grooming offences, but four of the teens – aged under 17 – have also been charged with bashing and extorting money from their targets.
Police have become so concerned about the teens’ acts of vigilantism – and the alleged culture of underage sex they have uncovered on Sydney’s Northern Beaches – that detectives have set up a strike force to investigate and expect to lay more charges.
The youths ambushed at least five men aged 30 to 64 last month in apparent honey traps on dating apps, including Grindr.
In text message exchanges, the teens allegedly told the men they were as young as 14-years-old, outlined their sexual experience and asked to be shown how to do “sexual stuff”.
One of the men allegedly replied that it “sounds hot”.
Another allegedly asked “When u turning 16?” and wrote “Love ur abs” in relation to a picture sent by one of the youths.
The teens then arranged a time and place to meet.
At the meetings, which occurred in the beachside area teeming with people enjoying the summer holidays, the teens arrived in a group and filmed the men before posting the videos to a social media account with about 700 followers.
In the videos, the teens accused the men of being pedophiles and told them their identities were being revealed on the internet.
In one case, the teens chased one of the men through the streets. In another they detained two others until the police arrived.
The teens also uploaded videos that showed the text message exchanges they allegedly had with the men.
In a post, which featured pictures and videos of one of the men, the caption said: “Man wanted … for having s*xually charged conversations with a minor online. If the police can’t do their job, I’ll do it for them.”
Viewer comments on the posts were largely supportive of the teens’ alleged actions.
“This is what kids should be doing in their spare time,” one user wrote. “You’re good kids.”
Police sources said one of the teens is a known nuisance and posts videos for notoriety.
He is accused of previously posting videos and images of plain clothed police conducting operations in an attempt to expose their identities.
A NSW Police spokesperson said: “Police do not support vigilante behaviour as it is a risk to all involved and leads to unintended consequences – report matters to police.”
In relation to the adult men, the spokesperson said: “Offenders have been and will continue to be charged.”
The spokesperson said the strike force was established on January 23 and four of the teens were arrested during two police raids.
They were charged with assault and demanding money with menace.
A number of the teens faced the NSW Children’s Court this week and can’t legally be identified because they are under 18.
One of the solicitors recorded as appearing for one of the teens, leading criminal lawyer Benjamin Goh, said at least two of the accused are preparing to fight the charges.
“It is not illegal to expose adults who are attempting to engage in sex with a minor,” Mr Goh said.
“But vigilante justice is never encouraged.”
On January 21, one of the teens posted a text exchange he allegedly had with a 31-year-old man before luring him into a meeting.
The man allegedly sent the first message, which said “sup”.
The teen replied “Heyy how old r u?”
The man allegedly wrote that he was 31-years-old and asked “When u turning 16?” before remarking “Love ur abs” in relation to a photo sent by the teen.
The man allegedly called the teen “cutie” and asked where he was located.
When the teen alluded to being shown how to do sexual “stuff”, the man allegedly asked “What stuff have you done so far, cutie?”
The teen then wrote about his sexual experience.
The man allegedly replied: “Either way it sounds hot.”
The teen then asked if the man could bring him some money.
“I’m trying to save up some money for my 16th,” the teen wrote. “Do u reckon when we meet up u can bring a bit of cash xx Or is that too much to ask aha.”
The man allegedly wrote back: “Haha OK I’m sure I can contribute …”
They then arranged a time and place to meet.
When he arrived, the teen and a number of friends surrounded and filmed the man that they alleged was communicating with them on the app.
They accused him of being a “pedophile” and repeatedly asked: “Bro, why are you here to meet a 14-year-old online?”.
The man responded “Am I?” and “I don’t know what you’re talking about” before running away.
The group chased the man until he escaped into a unit complex with a security door.
As the man ran to another security door, the teen yelled: “You’re a f--king pedophile, bro.”
On January 22, the teens posted videos of two other men they arranged to meet.
The teens told one of the men that his face was being posted on the internet while filming him through the partially opened window of his car.
In another text exchange posted to social media on January 22, the user on the other end wrote: “I’m 36, is that OK?”
The teen responded: “Ofc. I prefer older Xx.”
The user replied: “Sweet. You?”
The teen wrote: “Almost 15” alongside a winking emoji.
The user wrote back: “Ohhh nice.”
On January 21, one of the teens met another man in similar circumstances but police allege he extorted money from the man.
The teens’ cases and the police investigation continues.
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