A vigilante who wrongly accused a vulnerable pensioner of being a child rapist has been ordered to quit his post as leader of a group of paedophile hunters. Cameron Thomson whipped up a 70-strong mob outside terrified James Taylor's home. Police were called and the OAP was forced to flee Cumbernauld, where he'd lived for almost all of his life.
Sheriff blasts 'carefully orchestrated confrontation'
A sheriff blasted Thomson for the "carefully orchestrated confrontation" that had a "catastrophic" effect on Mr Taylor. Thomson, 22, founder of the Awareness Protection online group, narrowly avoided prison at Airdrie Sheriff Court. He admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner in Cumbernauld on April 7.
Jamie Grant, prosecuting, described Mr Taylor as "vulnerable with additional support needs". Mr Grant told the court: "He is not a registered sex offender and has never been convicted of any sexual offending. Around 2pm the accused Cameron Thomson attended with other members of Awareness Protection."
False accusations and livestream
"He began to livestream on Facebook, stating Mr Taylor was a convicted sex offender who had been imprisoned for five years for raping a child. None of this was true. The accused showed passers-by alleged documentation and throughout the livestream provided the name and address of Mr Taylor."
"He shouted comments including 'Dirty scumbag, time to go' and actively encouraged other members of the community to attend. Thomson gained access to the common close and went to Mr Taylor's front door. By then a group of 50-70 people had gathered. Police attended and found Mr Taylor in a state of confusion and distress."
Victim forced to flee
"Officers informed the accused that he had falsely identified Mr Taylor and he became hostile, stating he was not wrong. He told the crowd that the police were 'protecting a beast'. Mr Taylor had to be moved to a place of safety."
In June this year, Mr Taylor appeared at the same court and admitted attempting to rob a shop in Cumbernauld. He claimed he did this because Thomson and his group had made him so scared he wanted to be put in jail.
His lawyer, Caroline McGrath, told the court: "They acted aggressively towards him for 18 months. I tried to tell them they had the wrong person, but their campaign of harassment progressed nonetheless. It culminated in a mob baying for blood at his door. Mr Taylor was driven out of the community in which he had lived since he was four years old."
Apology and sentence
Defence lawyer Paul Dunne said dad of one Thomson, of Airdrie, offered "an unreserved apology" for his behaviour. He stated: "My client understands the impact it had on this vulnerable man. It should never have been brought upon him."
Mr Dunne said Thomson is willing to give up his vigilante post, adding: "He has to take the more appropriate route of reporting matters to a local authority rather than being a rabble rouser or raising a mob."
Sheriff Tony McGlennan said Thomson and his group had "targeted an entirely innocent man". He told the accused: "Mr Taylor has been left terrified and considers he would be safer in prison. He has effectively become homeless and has been suicidal. The effect on his life has been catastrophic. It appears only by chance that the gathered mob was not excited to do more than it did."
The sheriff said a prison sentence was appropriate but he accepted that Thomson had a "challenging" upbringing and was effectively a first offender. Thomson was put under supervision for two years and ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid community work. He was banned from taking part in any similar confrontation or livestream for two years. Sheriff McGlennan also imposed a non-harassment order, preventing Thomson from any contact with Mr Taylor for 15 years.
