The target of Sam Miller and James Moss was thrown to the ground, had a light shining in his eyes, accused of having a sexual conversation with a child and publicly ‘berated and humiliated’ during the live video broadcast.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Miller and Moss were part of the Child Online Safety Team pedophile-hunting group, whose videos can attract more than 1,000 viewers, and mistakenly believed that the man they confronted that day was already a convicted rapist.
Prosecutor Gavin Doig said the live broadcast of the “dive” showed the motivation of the groups was “publicity and bragging, not the detection of criminals” adding: “The live broadcast and telling you that you were being watched by a large number of people added to the shock and trauma suffered.’
In the shocking video, shown to the jury on the second day of the trial, the man can be seen pinned to the pavement and being berated by members of the group.
James Moss could become one of the first UK pedophile catchers to be jailed for surveillance activities.
At one point, a voice said to be Miller’s is heard yelling, ‘You’re a danger to the children. You’re one of the most dangerous people I’ve ever caught.
The court heard that after the group called police to the scene, the man was questioned and detained for 17 hours before being released without charge.
He was left with suicidal thoughts, wore a bandana or mask in public, said his family was affected and called what happened to him ‘cyberbullying’.
He told police: “It’s fair if I’m convicted and jailed, but I’m innocent until proven guilty, not in their eyes, you’re guilty, period.”
Miller, 29, of Stanley, County Durham, and Moss, 58, of Blyth, Northumberland, were convicted of false imprisonment after a trial, in which they insisted their activities were to protect the public.
Along with Sam Miller (above), the couple humiliated a father live on the internet for “publicity and bragging”, Newcastle Crown Court has heard.
The couple was due to be sentenced today, but Judge Julie Clemitson adjourned the case until June 23.
The judge told the men: ‘All options are on the table.’
Doig told the court during the trial that the group was more concerned with ‘Facebook Likes’ than upholding the law and tracked down and detained internet users because they cared ‘notoriety, intimidating others and acting like police officers’. fictitious’.
He said “hobbyist groups” have sprung up across the country and have begun looking for criminals on the Internet, without the proper technology or training that police have.
Groups pose as children online and organize sting operations to catch predators.
The court heard that it was February 6, 2020, when Miller approached police and told them that an internet user, who mistakenly claimed he was a convicted rapist, had contacted a decoy profile he was running.
The court heard Miller tell police that the man had committed no crime during the online conversation, but that he went home that night regardless.
Mr Doig said: ‘At 9:15pm Mr Miller called the police and told them that he had not only decided to arrest the man, but had already done so. Defendant Moss was with Miller at the time.
“They didn’t take the time to call the police before acting, but they did take the time to livestream the events on Facebook, so we can see some of what happened.”
“The man said he was forced to the ground and held there and a torch was lit in his eyes while he was being interrogated. Only after this process did Miller call the police.
The court heard that the man was interviewed by police, but it was determined that he had not committed any crime.
Miller arrives at Newcastle Crown Court today where his sentence has been stayed
Miller has prior convictions for impersonating a police officer, violent disorder and witness intimidation.
Moss has never been in trouble before.
Doig said Miller appeared to be the “self-proclaimed leader” of the online child safety team and received a letter from North Yorkshire Police in April 2020.
This advised him to cease his activities, as inviting potential pedophiles to public places created a risk, could hinder police investigations and cause him to break the law himself, but he appeared to ignore the correspondence.
Gordon Carse, defending Miller, who handed in character references, said, “I thought what he was doing was right.”
Carse said Miller, who has family responsibilities, is no longer part of COST, adding: “He has walked away and there are no plans to return.”
“Prison will punish you, but it is unlikely to address the underlying causes of your crime.”
Peter Eguae, defending Moss, told the court: ‘Acting outside the protection of the law was certainly not his intention.
He will not be a vigilante again. He has learned a sad, long and valuable lesson.
Eguae said that Moss is described in his character references as a “gentle giant”.
