STEPHEN PAINTER FROM EYNSHAM CAUGHT IN LEEDS CHILD SEX STING AND JAILED

In a significant case that highlights the ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation, Stephen Painter, a man with ties to Eynsham, was recently sentenced to prison after falling victim to a vigilante child sex sting operation in Leeds. Painter, who previously worked as a school bus driver and later as a groundsman at Cokethorpe School near Witney, found himself at the center of a police and community-led investigation aimed at catching individuals attempting to engage in illegal activities with minors.

Painter, residing on Spareacre Lane in Eynsham, had used a dating website to communicate with a profile created by a 'paedophile-hunting' group. The group had set up a decoy account on waplog.com, under the alias 'Emma,' claiming to be a 14-year-old girl. Painter, who believed he was speaking to a minor, used the username 'ziggyziggy56' and engaged in conversations that quickly turned sexual in nature. During these exchanges, he made references to sexual activity involving an 11-year-old, and discussed other explicit topics, clearly indicating his intentions.

The decoy account revealed that 'Emma' was at school and lived in Leeds, prompting Painter to arrange a meeting. He booked a room at a Travelodge just outside Bradford for October 23, with the apparent plan to meet the girl. The vigilante group, part of the Net Justice organization, tracked Painter’s movements and located him in Leeds on the scheduled day around 3 pm. When members of the group approached him, Painter attempted to drive away, but his escape was thwarted when a vigilante vehicle blocked his path.

The confrontation was streamed live on Facebook, capturing the moment when Painter, who was carrying lubricant, condoms, and vodka, admitted that the meeting was a mistake. The police intervened, arresting him at the scene. During the arrest, he was found with items indicative of his intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor.

At Oxford Crown Court, the prosecution detailed the case, emphasizing Painter’s use of the fake profile to lure a minor for sexual purposes. The court heard that the conversations, which began on waplog.com and continued via WhatsApp, included disturbing references to underage sexual activity. The evidence showed that Painter had traveled from Eynsham to Leeds with the intention of meeting a 14-year-old girl.

On Tuesday, Judge sentenced Painter to 18 months in prison. Additionally, he was placed under a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered to register as a sex offender for the same period. These measures are designed to monitor and restrict his activities to prevent any future offenses.

Lyall Thompson, defending Painter, who appeared via videolink from HMP Bullingdon, argued that his client, aged 61, had no prior offenses of this nature. Thompson highlighted Painter’s previous employment working closely with children, including driving school buses and working as a groundsman, asserting that he had maintained a clean record for his entire life. He expressed remorse for the actions that led to his downfall, acknowledging the severe consequences for himself, his family, and his employment.

Thompson also pointed out that Painter’s age and long-standing reputation should be considered, emphasizing that this was a singular lapse in judgment. Nevertheless, the court upheld the severity of the sentence, reflecting the seriousness with which such offenses are treated in the UK legal system.