Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lanarkshire Live

Lanarkshire paedophile trapped by vigilantes is jailed for 20 months

A Blantyre paedophile trapped by vigilantes has been jailed for 20 months.

David Johnstone was also put on the sex offenders' register for 10 years at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.

He was confronted by an angry group after sending indecent messages to adults he believed were teenage girls.

Johnstone, 53, of Small Crescent, also sent photos of his private parts and tried to get one of the 'girls' to meet up with him.

He admitted sending messages and images of a sexual nature to three adults posing as children.

David Johnstone was also put on the sex offenders' register for 10 years at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week. (Hamilton Advertiser)

Johnston also admitted attempting to arrange a meeting with one of the three with a view to having unlawful sexual activity.

The offences happened in September and October last year.

The court heard details of inappropriate online chats involving Johnstone and the vigilantes.

During one conversation a 'girl' protested: "I'm 13. That's adult stuff."

Johnstone replied: "You're old enough."

One of the 'girls' told him she lived in Bishopbriggs. Johnstone suggested she take a taxi to visit him and said he would reimburse her for the fare.

Members of the vigilante group involved in the sting went to his home on October 1 last year and livestreamed the confrontation on Facebook.

Jennifer McCabe, prosecuting, told the court: "Johnstone admitted he knew what he was doing and it was not right.

"He knew the girl was aged 13 and said he was drunk at the time."

*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head over and give our page a share and a like.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.