The organiser of an online child abuse vigilante group has received a two-year community payback order after it was found that he harassed an innocent man in a case of mistaken identity.
Cameron Thomson, 22, was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work and a 15-year non-harassment order against the 70-year-old victim on Wednesday, 7 October, 2026, at Airdrie Sheriff Court.
The conditions imposed in court mean that Thomson cannot livestream any event, or assist others in doing so, and cannot organise or participate in protest activity involving approaching or confronting an individual.
In April 2026, Thomson posted the name and address details of who he believed to be a Registered Sex Offender on social media.
The following day he attended the property in Cumbernauld, along with a group of between 50 and 70 others who had engaged with the social media post regarding the perceived sex offender.
He banged on the front door and shouted abuse at the householder, calling him a ‘paedophile’ and ‘beast.’ The victim from within the address phoned police, who attended and engaged with the group.
Officers established at the scene that this was a case of mistaken identity. Police told Thomson this; however, he refused to stop and carried on the harassment, live-streaming the event online.
The victim was not a sex offender and had had no allegations of sexual misconduct against him. The ordeal meant that he had to move permanently out of his house.
Thomson was arrested and subsequently charged. He pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared in court in August 2026.
Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Smith said: “Cameron Thomson misidentified and harassed an innocent man. He wanted to take the law into his own hands and believed he was protecting the local community by doing so.
“I ask people to think carefully about what they read online. We know that local residents can be concerned about who lives in their local area, but harassment, violence, disorder and threatening behaviour that puts people at risk are simply not acceptable.
“Registered sex offenders are managed robustly and effectively through Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements, known as MAPPA. These arrangements provide a comprehensive response to a complex issue, using professional assessment and risk management.
“‘Outing’ registered sex offenders on social media or physically confronting them significantly affects the ability of police and partners to manage risk effectively. It also undermines the measures already in place to protect the public.
“The conditions imposed recognise the alarm that was caused by Thomson’s conduct and the impact that has on the whole community.”