Bath man was snared by online ‘vigilantes’ posing as underage girls

A Bath man thought he was talking to girls under 16 but was actually communicating with fake profiles on social media operated by a “vigilante group”.

Bath Magistrates’ Court

Alexander Savery, 31, appeared at Bath Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 13th July, to admit three charges dating back to 2024.

The offences involved attempting to engage in sexual communication with three ‘girls’ – one between 20th April and 5th June, another between 16th May and 5th June, and a third between 19th June and 16th July.

Prosecutor Kevin Withey told the court that members of Saving Children’s Futures – a group which aims to protect children from online predators – had turned up at Savery’s home in Newbridge, carried out a citizen’s arrest and called the police.

Mr Withey said that to Savery’s credit, he had confessed to what he had done and his devices had been seized and sent for forensic analysis.

Savery, who had no previous convictions, sat with his head bowed during the hearing.

He was represented by solicitor Neil Brooker, who told the bench that members of the “vigilante group” had turned up at Savery’s home, encouraged him to come out and were filming and livestreaming on a social media platform, which had been “unpleasant” for him.

The court heard that there was no indication that Savery had committed any further offences, and he has been monitored and supervised by the police.

Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned the case until 14th September.

As he is now a convicted sex offender, Savey was ordered to register his full details within three days at the police centre in Keynsham, including bank accounts, passport and any addresses where he resides.