ROBERT GIBSON FROM BRIDGE OF WEIR CAUGHT IN PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS SCHEME
| Red Rose Database
Bridge of Weir Child Sexual Abuser
In April 2019, a disturbing case unfolded involving Robert Gibson, a 41-year-old man from Bridge of Weir, who was caught in a sting operation conducted by online paedophile hunters. The incident came to light after Gibson was found to have been grooming what he believed was a 12-year-old girl for sexual activity through a series of online communications.
Gibson was initially engaging with a member of the vigilante group known as Wolf Pack Hunters UK, which specializes in identifying and exposing online predators targeting children. The group’s volunteers pose as minors on social media platforms, gather evidence of inappropriate conversations, and then report these to law enforcement authorities. In this case, the group confronted Gibson at his parents’ residence in Bridge of Weir after uncovering sexually explicit exchanges he had with a volunteer posing as a young girl named Ava.
During the court proceedings at Paisley Sheriff Court, the prosecutor, Procurator Fiscal depute Keri Marshall, detailed the sequence of events. She explained that the volunteer, a 46-year-old woman, was part of Wolf Pack Hunters UK and had been posing as Ava, a 12-year-old girl, on the social media platform Skout. The contact between Gibson and the decoy began between February 21 and February 26, with Gibson initially engaging in conversations that did not contain sexual content. He was aware that Ava was a minor, as she explicitly stated her age during their chats.
However, the nature of their communication escalated once the contact moved to WhatsApp, after Ava provided her mobile number and Gibson added her as a contact. From this point onward, the exchanges became increasingly sexualized, despite Ava’s repeated assertions that she was only 12 years old. Gibson expressed a desire to teach her how to kiss, asked her to touch his private parts, and even spoke about having sex with her without a condom. The court was shown screenshots of these explicit messages, which included Gibson claiming that “sex is not sore” and inquiring whether her mother checked her phone.
Further disturbing was Gibson’s attempt to share a sexual image. He sent a naked photograph of himself, with his private parts clearly visible, and his face identifiable in the image. This act of sending a sexual image to someone he believed was a minor was a key factor in his arrest. Following this, the decoy, Ms. Ferry, decided to take action. She joined the Wolf Pack Hunters UK group and, along with other members, confronted Gibson at his parents’ home in Bridge of Weir on the evening of April 30, 2019. They presented him with screenshots of the conversations, which left Gibson visibly shocked and remorseful, exclaiming, “I am f*****. I will lose my job.”
As a consequence of his actions, Gibson resigned from his position at the UK Passport Office. He has also been evicted from his parents’ house and is currently residing in homeless accommodation. During the court hearing, Gibson pleaded guilty to charges of sending indecent communications to a person he believed to be under 13, with the intent of sexual gratification or causing humiliation, distress, or alarm. He also admitted to causing the girl to view a sexual image for similar purposes.
Sheriff Frances McCartney deferred sentencing to allow for the preparation of background reports, emphasizing the seriousness of the case and indicating that custody was a possibility. She stated, “These are serious matters which you have pleaded guilty to and custody is at the forefront of my mind.” Gibson is scheduled to return to court on May 13, where his fate will be decided. Additionally, authorities are considering placing him on the Sex Offenders’ Register, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing concern for public safety.
Gibson was initially engaging with a member of the vigilante group known as Wolf Pack Hunters UK, which specializes in identifying and exposing online predators targeting children. The group’s volunteers pose as minors on social media platforms, gather evidence of inappropriate conversations, and then report these to law enforcement authorities. In this case, the group confronted Gibson at his parents’ residence in Bridge of Weir after uncovering sexually explicit exchanges he had with a volunteer posing as a young girl named Ava.
During the court proceedings at Paisley Sheriff Court, the prosecutor, Procurator Fiscal depute Keri Marshall, detailed the sequence of events. She explained that the volunteer, a 46-year-old woman, was part of Wolf Pack Hunters UK and had been posing as Ava, a 12-year-old girl, on the social media platform Skout. The contact between Gibson and the decoy began between February 21 and February 26, with Gibson initially engaging in conversations that did not contain sexual content. He was aware that Ava was a minor, as she explicitly stated her age during their chats.
However, the nature of their communication escalated once the contact moved to WhatsApp, after Ava provided her mobile number and Gibson added her as a contact. From this point onward, the exchanges became increasingly sexualized, despite Ava’s repeated assertions that she was only 12 years old. Gibson expressed a desire to teach her how to kiss, asked her to touch his private parts, and even spoke about having sex with her without a condom. The court was shown screenshots of these explicit messages, which included Gibson claiming that “sex is not sore” and inquiring whether her mother checked her phone.
Further disturbing was Gibson’s attempt to share a sexual image. He sent a naked photograph of himself, with his private parts clearly visible, and his face identifiable in the image. This act of sending a sexual image to someone he believed was a minor was a key factor in his arrest. Following this, the decoy, Ms. Ferry, decided to take action. She joined the Wolf Pack Hunters UK group and, along with other members, confronted Gibson at his parents’ home in Bridge of Weir on the evening of April 30, 2019. They presented him with screenshots of the conversations, which left Gibson visibly shocked and remorseful, exclaiming, “I am f*****. I will lose my job.”
As a consequence of his actions, Gibson resigned from his position at the UK Passport Office. He has also been evicted from his parents’ house and is currently residing in homeless accommodation. During the court hearing, Gibson pleaded guilty to charges of sending indecent communications to a person he believed to be under 13, with the intent of sexual gratification or causing humiliation, distress, or alarm. He also admitted to causing the girl to view a sexual image for similar purposes.
Sheriff Frances McCartney deferred sentencing to allow for the preparation of background reports, emphasizing the seriousness of the case and indicating that custody was a possibility. She stated, “These are serious matters which you have pleaded guilty to and custody is at the forefront of my mind.” Gibson is scheduled to return to court on May 13, where his fate will be decided. Additionally, authorities are considering placing him on the Sex Offenders’ Register, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing concern for public safety.