Craig Richardson, a repeat offender, was jailed for eight years after attempting to meet young girls online, only to be caught by paedophile hunter groups.

Richardson, who had previously been jailed for similar offenses in 2021, was confronted by two separate groups, Fighting Against the Evil and Hunted and Confronted UK, as he attempted to meet girls he believed to be underage.

In December 2021, Richardson began communicating with a 'girl' named 'Nicky', who was actually a decoy profile set up by Fighting Against the Evil. He quickly made sexual suggestions and arranged to meet her on January 3rd, but was instead confronted by members of the group at Castleford Bus Station. The confrontation was livestreamed before police arrived.

Simultaneously, Richardson was also communicating with a 13-year-old 'Lucy', a fake decoy profile created by Hunted and Confronted UK. He again made sexual advances and requested photographs. He was eventually apprehended by the group and police, but refused to comment during both interviews.

At Leeds Crown Court, Richardson admitted to nine charges, including attempting to incite a child into sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual activity, and breaching his previous sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Judge Tom Bayliss QC deemed that Richardson posed a serious risk to children and sentenced him to eight years in prison with an extended four-year licence period. He also imposed an indeterminate SHPO, limiting Richardson's internet use.