Ryan Naumenko: Mildura Creep Catchers page was set up to ‘name and shame’

A judge has warned a man who used fake Grindr accounts and posed as teens to publicly humiliate “creeps”, being a vigilante is no defence.

Mildura man Ryan Naumenko

A man who allegedly posed as a teenage boy on a dating app then posted screenshots to a “creep catcher” Facebook page wanted to “name and shame”, a court has heard.

Mildura man Ryan Victor Naumenko, 38, on Thursday appeared at Mildura Magistrates’ Court and was initially contesting four charges of stalking.

After discussions with prosecutors, those charges were withdrawn and Naumenko instead pleaded guilty to four charges of using a carriage service in a menacing manner.

Earlier this week a police prosecutor told the court Naumenko and others bought overseas web hosting and set up a Mildura Creep Catchers Facebook page.

The court heard the group also set up Grindr accounts with pictures of children, which were then used to have conversations with adult users on the app.

Police said in one conversation, a fake profile identified itself as a 15-year-old boy to a man and later arranged a meeting.

The court was told when the man arrived, photos of his car were taken and uploaded to the website and Facebook page.

Police said a second man agreed to meet at a local high school during conversations with a fake profile posing as a 15-year-old boy.

The court heard Naumenko then posted images to Mildura Creep Catchers.

Police said a third man agreed to meet a supposed 14-year-old boy at a Woolworths.

The court was then told Naumenko then posted a text message exchange.

Police said a fourth man was a registered sex offender who had previous news articles about him posted in Mildura Creep Catchers.

The prosecutor said after coverage of the Facebook page started in local media, it became “too large to handle” and Naumenko ceased to operate it.

Naumenko was said to have made full admissions to police in an interview.

The prosecutor said Naumenko detailed the set-up of the website and page, and said a total of 12 “meetings” had been arranged, with six of those showing up.

Naumenko was said to have told police that while the Grindr accounts’ age was officially set to 18, those targeted would be told a different age during conversations.

“It was simply to get these people named and shamed,” Naumenko was said to have told police.

The court heard in the interview, Naumenko said he hadn’t been under the impression what he was doing was illegal.

He was said to have told police that “in hindsight” it would have been better to take information to police instead of posting it online.

Naumenko told the court on Thursday he had received a lot of support in the community for his actions, which had “opened the eyes of people” to be safer online.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan asked Naumenko on what grounds he was contesting the stalking charges.

“The fact you say I’ve got support in the community, because you are some sort of vigilante for paedophiles, is not some defence,” Mr Coghlan said.

Naumenko said there were “issues” with how police had gathered evidence.

After receiving a list of Naumenko’s prior convictions, including two recent prison terms, Mr Coghlan said Naumenko’s actions were “ironic in one sense”.

“There are many people in the community who would be critical of the conduct you have engaged with in recent years,” Mr Coghlan said.

“People in glass houses should not throw stones.”

Mr Coghlan stood the matter down so Naumenko could talk further with prosecutors.

Upon returning Naumenko pleaded guilty to the four replacement charges.

He was next due to appear on May 10.

Follow The Mildura News on Facebook to keep up to date with other local stories