Motherwell man trapped by paedophile hunters after sending indecent messages to 'girl' who was in fact a vigilante

During an online chat would-be predator Neil McVey admitted he could “get into big trouble” for sending the disgusting material.

However he had not taken into account that his overtures were in fact being monitored by a group which aims to expose the activities of paedophiles and that the recipient of his messages was in fact an adult who intended to expose him.

As a result, McVey was trapped by members of Child Protection Scotland who turned up at Glasgow’s Buchanan Bus Station after arranging to meet the ‘girl’ there.

Group members then contacted police who then mounted their own investigation with the evidence provided online.

McVey, 59, of Loganlea Drive, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

He admitted indecent communication with a person he believed to be a child in April and May last year.

The court heard he used a false name, Peter Fleming, when he struck up an online relationship with the group member.

As this developed, his messages became more “sexualised”.

McVey lived in Holm Gardens, Bellshill, at the time.

He asked to see a picture of the ‘girl’ in school uniform as he was in a “naughty mood”

He then sent her indecent photos of himself.

And the material also included videos of himself performing an indecent act.

Alice Carey, prosecuting, said: “He asked repeatedly for images of the ‘girl’, both wearing underwear and without.

“Members of Child Protection Scotland then attended an arranged meeting at Buchanan Bus Station.

“They saw McVey standing there alone.

"They approached him and identified him as the male using the Facebook profile Peter Fleming.

“CPS reported the matter to the police.

"Officers interviewed the accused.

" He freely admitted sending messages and sexual images and videos of himself.”

Sheriff Colin Dunipace deferred sentence until September for background reports and a risk assessment.

McVey was placed on the sex offenders’ register.