GEORGE INNESS FROM LOSSIE MOUTH SCANDAL: NURSE AND PAEDOPHILE HUNTER CAUGHT IN SCOTLAND

In August 2023, a disturbing case involving George Inness, a nurse from Lossiemouth, came to light, revealing serious allegations of sexual misconduct and criminal behavior. The case garnered significant attention after Inness was found to have engaged in inappropriate communications with a decoy posing as a 14-year-old girl, as part of a sting operation conducted by the Scottish-based paedophile hunting group, the 'Paedophile Hunters'.

Inness was formally referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) on September 17 of the previous year, following reports from an anonymous source and NHS Grampian. The NMC stated that they received evidence in the form of screenshots from a press article detailing the sting operation, which involved a decoy profile created by the group to lure potential offenders.

The investigation revealed that Inness had sent sexually explicit messages and indecent images to the decoy, who was pretending to be a 14-year-old girl. The messages, exchanged between June 5 and June 23, included inappropriate questions about her clothing, such as whether she wore a school uniform, and flirtatious comments expressing jealousy because he was not with her when she came out of the shower. Inness also inquired if she planned to go topless while on holiday with her parents, and asked about her underwear, whether she thought about sex, and expressed a desire to see her naked, suggesting they could do “anything she wanted”.

Furthermore, Inness sent multiple images, including photographs of his genitals, a picture of himself in his underwear, and a scar from a hernia operation. These actions demonstrated a clear breach of professional conduct and trust.

When confronted at his residence by the 'Paedophile Hunters', Inness responded with remorse, saying, “Yeah I shouldn’t have done it, I am sorry.” His reaction then took a disturbing turn when he requested a drink of water, left his front door open, and returned with a knife pointed at his chest. Witnesses reported that he was moving the knife in a stabbing motion, prompting the group to intervene out of concern for his safety.

The police were called to the scene, and Inness was subsequently arrested. The case proceeded to Inverness Sheriff Court, where he was found guilty on October 25 of charges under sections 33 and 34(1) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009. The conviction was based on evidence of his inappropriate communications and actions.

In August 2023, during a hearing, the NMC determined that Inness’s fitness to practice as a nurse was severely impaired due to his conduct and criminal conviction. The panel emphasized that his actions represented a significant departure from the standards expected of a registered nurse and were fundamentally incompatible with remaining on the professional register. The NMC concluded that allowing him to continue practicing would undermine public confidence in the nursing profession and the regulatory body itself. Consequently, Inness was struck off the nursing register effective August 2023.

Earlier, in October 2022, Inness’s disturbing behavior was captured on a live Facebook broadcast during a confrontation with paedophile hunters. The footage, which has been viewed over 20,000 times, shows Inness, then aged 57, clutching a kitchen knife to his chest and uttering, “my life is not worth living.”

This incident followed his sending of sexual messages and indecent images to a decoy profile, again claiming to be a 14-year-old girl named Savannah. The decoy, created by the group Elite Predator Interceptors, initiated contact on the app Rando Chat on June 5. Inness responded immediately, and over the course of 18 days, the conversations became increasingly sexualized. He asked about her school uniform, whether she would go topless on holiday, and inquired about her underwear. The chat logs also included personal questions about her body and whether she looked at herself naked in the mirror.

Inness sent 14 explicit images, including photos of his genitals, a picture of himself in underwear, and a scar from his hernia operation. The group, having traveled to his home in Lossiemouth, confronted him with the evidence. Inness admitted to the inappropriate conduct, expressing regret and stating that he had “ruined his life.”

During the confrontation, he was seen holding a knife to his chest, prompting the group to intervene out of concern for his safety. Police were called, and Inness made full admissions during his police interview. The court subsequently placed him on the sex offenders’ register with immediate effect, and a pre-sentencing report was ordered. His sentencing is scheduled for the following month, with his solicitor reserving remarks in mitigation.

This case highlights the serious breaches of trust and the dangerous behavior exhibited by George Inness, a man from Lossiemouth, whose actions have led to his removal from the nursing profession and ongoing criminal proceedings.