A man suspected of meeting a child in Bath following grooming them online has suffered leg injuries while attempting to get away from a paedophile hunter.
The man was initially confronted by Danny Catcher – a man dedicated to catching online predators and putting them before the courts – at around 10.30am on Stall Street.
However, the suspect fled the scene and was arrested near to Bath College.
In a statement released on Facebook, Danny Catcher said: “At approximately 10.30am yesterday morning, Monday 17 July, I confronted a man – believed to be aged in his 30s – who was visiting Bath city centre to meet a child for sexual activity.
“On confronting the suspect, I immediately detained him under Citizen’s Arrest without using force. He fled the scene, running away. I chased him, while calling out to the public for assistance. Following a foot pursuit lasting ten minutes, assisted by a number of members of the public, the man was finally stopped.
“At this point, he was surrounded by myself, four members of the public and two security guards from Bath College, but he managed to flee again.
“This time running through a pedestrian walkway where he chose to climb over a tall fence at speed. This resulted in him suffering fractures to both of his legs. He voluntarily gave up and we waited with him police officers to arrive.
“My first priority is the suspect’s safety. On this occasion he refused first aid from Bath College security guards and myself who offered to check his legs for injuries.
“The man, from Cheshire, had been grooming a decoy profile online, and arranged to meet who he thought to be a 13-year-old girl. He was arrested on suspicious on meeting a child following sexual grooming.
“I cannot comment further on this case at this time as a police investigation by Avon and Somerset Constabulary is now underway.”
