Two vigilante paedophile hunters have been found guilty of the false imprisonment of a man.
Sam Miller, 29, and James Moss, 58, were part of an amateur group called the Child Online Safety Team (COST) when they carried out the false imprisonment of a man in 2020. Miller, the "self-appointed leader" of the group and Moss were each found guilty of one count of the serious charge.
Miller and Moss had been facing a trial at Newcastle Crown Court alongside co-defendants Iain McCutcheon, 35, and Craig Carter, 32, which started in March. The jury went out to consider their verdict on Tuesday this week, and returned on Thursday afternoon after hours of deliberation.
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Miller, of Hutton Court, Anfield Plain, Stanley, and Moss, of Laburnum Avenue, Blyth, were both found guilty of one count of false imprisonment. Iain McCutcheon and Craig Carter were both found not guilty of the charges they faced. Miller was also found not guilty of two further counts of false imprisonment.
During the trial, Miller told the jury he did not carry out sting operations for "notoriety" and insisted he did it to protect the public.
Miller and Moss will return to the court on Friday May 26 for sentence.
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