JOHN ZAMLYNNY FROM THORNTON CAUGHT IN PAEDOPHILE HUNTER STING IN SCOTLAND

In a case that has drawn significant attention, John Zamlynny, a 75-year-old resident of Thornton, has admitted to engaging in inappropriate and sexual communications with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The incident unfolded in March 2019 when Zamlynny was caught in a sting operation conducted by the paedophile hunter group known as Groom Resisters Scotland.

According to reports, Zamlynny initially made contact with a profile on the website Chatiw, believing he was communicating with a young girl named Alanna. Unbeknownst to him, the profile was a fake created by members of the hunter group to catch individuals attempting to engage in illegal activities with minors. Despite being informed that the profile was allegedly that of a 14-year-old, Zamlynny continued the conversation, sharing his mobile phone number and exchanging explicit messages via WhatsApp.

The group orchestrated a sting operation, traveling from their base to Zamlynny’s home village of Thornton. When he failed to meet them at the designated location, the group conducted further inquiries in the local area. Their efforts led them to his residence on Willowbank Close. However, upon arrival, they discovered that Zamlynny was not at home. The incident was captured in a live stream broadcast on Facebook, which drew the attention of local residents and passersby.

As the situation developed, members of the public gathered around the property after viewing the live footage. The authorities were eventually alerted, and Zamlynny was located and traced. During the subsequent police investigation, he was taken into custody. It was reported that during his police interview, Zamlynny chose not to comment on the allegations. However, he later confided in his wife, stating, “It’s ‘cause I’m bored when you’re at work.”

Legal proceedings followed, with Zamlynny appearing in court where his defense solicitor, David Bell, requested that background reports be prepared before sentencing. The court deferred sentencing until May 1, and the sheriff decided not to place Zamlynny on the sex offenders register at that time. The case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and community groups to combat online grooming and protect minors from exploitation.