Nathan Baird had a brick thrown through his window as a result of his block of flats appearing in a live video by paedophile hunter group Stings who tracked down 49-year-old Justin Bell and brought him to justice at the weekend.

Bell, of Bannisdale Way, Morton, was one of two men who appeared at the city’s magistrates’ court on Monday and admitted serious online child sex offences.

Stings, on behalf of Secret Whispers UK, filmed the allegations they put to Bell on his doorstep and the moment he was put under citizen’s arrest before police arrived.

But in the 17-minute-long piece of footage, which was posted live and unedited on Facebook, the area where he lives could clearly been seen in the background.

Mr Baird, 31, who was in Newcastle when his ground floor flat was wrongly targeted on Sunday night, says he is on edge and those around him, including a woman in her 70s, are living in fear of what could happen next.

There have been cars stopping outside the property, people driving past “to have a look” and neighbours were asked questions about Bell's whereabouts.

He said: “Fortunately in this case they have had evidence and been able to catch him and get him off the streets but by doing that, and by doing it in a more lax way than they should have, they have put everyone else in danger in the area.

“People should always think before they immediately jump to conclusions from things they see on Facebook.

“These groups need to look into the processes in which they do things so this doesn’t happen again and so it doesn’t happen to us again.

“I get that there is a good outcome in there but it is muddied by the process they use.”

Mr Baird said he understands the groups' reasons for filming and is aware they warn people not to go after the property but he feels this is not enough of a deterrent.

He said this is not an isolated incident and is concerned about the way the films are posted live and unedited.

“The way these groups are doing it, it’s not protecting the people that are indirectly involved,” he continued.

“Other groups would meet them somewhere public. They wouldn’t go to their address.

“I’m nothing to do with him and didn’t speak to him once. My neighbours are all shocked. It was no one’s fault but him.”

Making a case

Secret Whispers UK has stressed it never intends to put anyone at risk when carrying out its vital work to track down those who target children online.

The group warned its followers on Facebook that Justin Bell’s family and neighbours had suffered the backlash of his arrest, after Mr Baird’s property was damaged.

It has since removed the video, taken by Stings, of the moment the 49-year-old was approached.

Such behaviour, it says, ruins the hard work teams put in to protect children.

Sophie Jennings, team founder, explained live videos make the case more secure. “The predator can’t say the hunters have attacked them and the hunters can’t say the same thing back,” she said.

“It stops any false accusations but it’s also to make sure any other decoys or parents who have seen this person on their child’s internet can come forward. It also spreads the awareness.

“We apologise profusely to the neighbour. We don’t want the families or neighbours being targeted because that’s not what this is about. It’s about getting the predators off our streets and making sure our children are safe.

“A lot goes into what we do. We always state please don’t damage the property and if you know the area stay away. We can’t stress that enough.”

Stings did not respond when contacted by the News & Star but says on Facebook it "will never give out addresses of the offender."

Appeal

Police were called at about 8.30pm on Sunday following reports that a window had been smashed in Bannisdale Way.

Officers are investigating the incident and urging anyone with information to come forward.

It has also prompted a warning for people not to take the law into their own hands.

Detective Chief Inspector Helen Harkins said: "The person whose window was smashed had no connection at all with the incident which led to the arrest on Saturday evening.

"This incident highlights perfectly why people should not take the law into their own hands.

"Whoever is responsible for this incident of criminal damage has achieved nothing more than to cause a great deal of upset to an entirely innocent party.

"We would urge anyone with information about who committed this offence to contact police immediately.”

Contact officers on 101, quoting log number 236 of April 7, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Always call 999 in an emergency.