Michael Vile

A Wirral man, Michael Vile, has been sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court following his arrest by a paedophile hunter group who used decoy profiles to expose potential child sex offenders.

The case came to light when Vile, believing he was communicating with underage girls, engaged in explicit online conversations. The decoy operation, conducted by the hunter group, led to his identification and subsequent police involvement. Merseyside Police investigated the matter after being alerted by the group, confirming Vile's attempts to arrange meetings for sexual purposes with individuals he thought were children.

During the court proceedings, prosecutors detailed the nature of the communications, highlighting the predatory intent behind Vile's actions. The judge at Liverpool Crown Court described the offences as serious, emphasising the vulnerability of potential victims and the dangers of online grooming. Vile pleaded guilty to charges related to attempting to meet a child following grooming and sexual communication with a child.

The sentencing took place on 15th December, with the court imposing a custodial sentence to reflect the gravity of the paedophile-related offences. This case underscores the role of community-led initiatives in combating child sexual exploitation in the UK.