Paedophile hunters confront 'council worker' in Faversham
Published: 00:00, 12 September 2016
Updated: 19:39, 12 September 2016
This is the moment paedophile hunters appeared to catch a "council social worker" hoping to meet a teenage boy for sex.
The Hunted One has shown the confrontation and apparent arrest of 38-year-old James Hope, who is believed to be a Kent County Council social worker who works with vulnerable children.
He is said to live in Faversham and to have previously lived in Herne Bay.
On a post on YouTube yesterday the group says Hope believed he was on his way to meet a 15-year-old boy for sex.
In the footage - which contains language unsuitable to publish on a news website - men from the group approach the suspect.
They ask him “What are you doing here? Is that a photograph of you? You work with children anyway don’t you? Do you think it’s ok to come and meet a child?”
Hope replies: “He’s 16 isn’t he?” But he is then told that he already knows the child’s age is 15.
WATCH: The suspect is confronted. Video: The Hunted One.
In another video, Hope is seen being led away by police officers. A Kent Police spokesman said the arrest was made on Sunday shortly after 6.30pm.
The spokesman said a 38-year-old man from Faversham was arrested on suspicion of grooming, and has since been released on bail.
A Kent County Council spokesman said: "We are aware of an arrest being made in Faversham.
"This is a police matter and we will not be commenting further at this time."
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Aidan Barlow