A man exposed by a paedophile hunter group as he tried to meet a child for sex has been spared a jail sentence.


A man exposed by a paedophile hunter group as he tried to meet a child for sex has been spared a jail sentence.

Colin Peter had arranged to meet who he thought was a 12-year-old girl at Kirkcaldy rail station but was instead confronted by the vigilante group ‘Groom Resisters Scotland’. At the town’s sheriff court he was placed on the sex offenders register and given a community payback order, both for three years.
The court previously heard Peter, 54, repeatedly sent sexual messages to an online profile he believed was that of a girl, but was in fact a member of the group.

Unemployed Peter, of Kennoway Road in Windygates, walked into the sting, which was live-streamed on social media, when he arrived at the transport hub on July 29 last year.

He pled guilty to sending sexual communications to a person believed to be a child under the age of 13 from his former home in Haughgate Street, Leven, and attempting to meet a young girl with the intention of engaging in unlawful sexual activity. Sheriff James Williamson said he believed the public would be better protected by a stringent community-based sentence. Peter’s order bans him from unauthorised contact with children, restricts his use of internet-connected devices and requires approval of his accommodation and any employment.

Given the nature of his offences and previous offences committed in the 1980s and 1990s, the judge had requested background reports at an earlier hearing.
Defence solicitor Kerr Sneddon has a learning disability and has not offended since 1994. Sheriff Williamson said it was “fortunate” for him that there was such a lengthy gap. He said: “Given your background I’m prepared to deal with you by way of a community payback order of three years.
“You will have no contact with children under the age of 16, unless that contact has been approved by your supervising officer.”

January 2019
Pervert is exposed at Kirkcaldy Train Station by hunter group after making plans to meet girl, 12, for sex

A Fife man was exposed by a paedophile hunter group as he waited to meet a 12-year-old girl for sex at Kirkcaldy Train Station. Colin Peter began communicating with an online profile which he believed belonged to a young girl in July 2018. The 54-year-old, who repeatedly sent sexual messages, was actually talking to a member of the paedophile hunting group Groom Resisters Scotland.

Peter, of Kennoway Road in Windygates, arranged to meet the girl at the transport hub in Kirkcaldy on July 29. Instead he was met by members of the group who live-streamed the “sting” on social media. Unemployed Peter appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court and pled guilty to two charges.
He admitted intentionally sending written sexual communications to a person who he believed to be a child under the age of 13, from his former home in Haughgate Street in Leven.

The pervert also admitted attempting to meet the young girl at the train station and intending to engage in unlawful sexual activity. When confronted at the station, Peter was caught on video telling the hunters: “We were just going to go away and have lunch. Just looking at the shops.”
However, one message, which he admitted writing to the fictional girl, was read back to him.
It said: “Well apart from lunch and coming back to my place to watch a movie or listen to music.
“We can always take a walk along the beach or just stay here and if you want we can have sex together but I’ll use a condom during the time we have sex.”
Sheriff James Williamson said: “This is a case where the accused became involved online with someone he thought was a child and involved himself in correspondence.

“He was thereafter detected by this group and interviewed. “Given the nature of this conviction and the nature of your previous convictions that go back to the 90s and 80s, I’m going to order a criminal justice social work report.”

He also ordered Peter to sign the sex offenders register in the meantime and will determine the length of his registration at his sentencing.
Peter was released on bail and will return to Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on February 15