Man attacked by vigilantes admits grooming underage girl

Andrew O’Neill, 25, was beaten up by paedophile hunters in Wigan after arranging to meet someone he believed was 14-year-old girl


Shoppers witnessed the assault in Wigan town centre as O’Neill was headbutted and lost two front teeth. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

A man attacked and filmed by alleged vigilante paedophile hunters has admitted in court that he groomed an underage girl.

Andrew O’Neill, 25, was beaten up in public after making contact on a dating website with a “girl” called Alex, Wigan magistrates court heard.

But after booking a hotel room and turning up to meet the girl in Wigan on Saturday afternoon, he was confronted by a number of men and attacked.

Concerned shoppers witnessed the assault on Market Place in the town centre as O’Neill was headbutted and lost two front teeth. Other members of the group filmed the incident. He escaped and reported the assault to the police.

The video was later posted on Facebook with the tag “NWI Nonce Busters” - believed to be a reference to rightwing group the North West Infidels. The video has since been taken down.

O’Neill, formerly of Castlehey, Skelmersdale, was charged by police after reporting the assault and admitted an offence of attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming, between 11 and 18 April. He was remanded into custody for his own safety and will appear for sentencing at Liverpool crown court on 11 May.

Nicola Ormerod, prosecuting, said: “The defendant has contacted somebody said to be called ‘Alex’ on a profile on a dating website. General discussions then turn flirty and sexual and she said she is 14. There’s an arrangement made for the two parties to meet. The defendant has already booked a hotel room and is found in possession of a tube of lubricant.

“It’s been a set-up profile from a group. He thought this person was 14 and has arranged to meet for the relevant offence. It has had press coverage over the weekend. It is from a particular group who set this up and the defendant has been assaulted.”

Andrea Woods, defending, said O’Neill had no previous convictions and cooperated with police.

O’Neill was the second man arrested by police over the weekend after alleged vigilante paedophile stings. A second man, aged 19, has been released on bail on suspicion of committing a similar offence to O’Neill.

A 25-year-old man from Wigan was also arrested by Greater Manchester police on suspicion of assault and blackmail.