MARK BUNYAN FROM MALVERN CAUGHT BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS TRYING TO MEET YOUNG GIRLS IN WORCESTER

In a recent case that has sent shockwaves through the Malvern community, a local man named Mark Bunyan, residing on Back Lane in Malvern, was apprehended after attempting to engage in inappropriate online communications with what he believed were underage girls. The incident was orchestrated by a group of vigilant 'paedophile hunters' who set up a sting operation to catch online predators attempting to exploit minors.

According to reports, Bunyan, aged 55, was actively participating in conversations with what he thought were young girls, but in reality, he was communicating with decoy profiles created by the anti-pedophile group. One of these decoys identified herself as 'tiny girl,' and through these interactions, Bunyan expressed his desire to meet the supposed minors in person. The operation was designed to expose individuals seeking to exploit children, and Bunyan's actions were caught on record during these exchanges.

On Thursday, Bunyan appeared before magistrates in Worcester to face charges related to his online conduct. He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor. The first charge covered his attempts between January 6 and January 16 of this year, during which he used the Kik messaging platform to contact the decoys. The second charge pertained to similar conduct between January 9 and January 16, also via Kik.

It is important to note that these charges are classified as 'attempts' because no actual children were involved in the offences. The court was informed that Bunyan had sent sexually explicit images to the decoys, who had identified themselves as being 14 years old. Prosecutor Elizabeth Blacklock detailed that Bunyan had also requested the decoys to send him images of themselves in their underwear, further indicating the inappropriate nature of his communications. These exchanges were part of the sting operation conducted by the group aiming to bring online predators to justice.

Given the seriousness of the case, magistrates decided that it was not suitable for trial at that level and committed the matter to Worcester Crown Court for sentencing. No specific date has been set for the next hearing, but Bunyan was informed that he would be notified in advance.

As part of his bail conditions, Bunyan was restricted from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18, except in unavoidable or incidental circumstances that occur in daily life. This condition aims to prevent any further potential harm while the legal process continues. The case has raised concerns among local residents in Malvern, highlighting the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to protect minors from online predators.