An oil and gas worker was caught trying to meet up with a young boy for sex after being snared by paedophile hunters.
Raul Perez tried to lure the youth to a hotel while visiting Aberdeen on a 10-day trip from the Philippines. But he was ambushed by two vigilantes when he turned up to meet the 14-year-old boy at the accommodation. They questioned him on his motives before calling in the police.
The 35-year-old, who had been on a training course with his work, admitted meeting what he believed to be an underage boy for sexual activity during an appearance at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday. He also admitted being in possession of child pornography.
Raul Perez was staying in the Aberdeen Altens Hotel when he began messaging Ben Holmes on the social networking site Meet Me.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard yesterday that the profile initially stated that the other user was 19 years old but later changed to state he was 14 and living in Edinburgh.
Perez asked him to come to the hotel and the other user replied saying he would have to get changed out of his school uniform.
The 35-year-old then asked: “Do you like to have romantic moments?”
But he was unaware that he had been set up by so-called paedophile hunters.
Yesterday depute fiscal Jamie Dunbar told the court that Darren Constable and Ryan Carling are founders of Groom Resisters Scotland.
He said: “They set up fake accounts on social media and attempt to trap males to meet persons under 16 for sexual activity.
“The group obtain evidence of a crime then give it to the police.”
Mr Constable and Mr Carling travelled to the Altens hotel where Perez had agreed to meet Ben Holmes on March 27.
They approached Perez, asking why he had messaged a 14-year-old for sex.
Perez said he was there to meet a 19-year-old but the two men requested that he remain with them while they contacted the police.
Officers then turned up and detained him.
Police also discovered indecent videos of children on the phone he had used to send the messages.
Perez, whose address was given in court papers as HMP Grampian, admitted being in possession of child pornography and meeting someone under the age of 16 with the intent to engage in sexual activity during a court appearance yesterday.
The court heard he had planned to be in the country for just 10 days.
Sheriff Jack Brown placed him on the sex offenders register and deferred sentence to obtain reports.
Perez will return to court next month to be sentenced.
A spokesman at Groom Resisters Scotland said he was happy with the outcome.
He said: “We do feel we are having a positive impact.
“Police Scotland is under-staffed and under-financed.”
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