Stinson Hunter

{{short description|British vigilante}}

{{COI|date=January 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Stinson Hunter

| image =

| caption = Hunter in 2014

| birth_name = Kieren Parsons

| other_names = Kieren Ashby

| nationality = British

| occupation = Vigilante, documentary subject

| known_for = The Paedophile Hunter (Channel 4 documentary)

| criminal_charge = Stalking (2023)

| criminal_penalty = Supervision, curfew, non-harassment order

}}

Stinson Hunter (born Kieren Parsons){{cite news |title=Vigilante ‘paedophile hunter’ Stinson Hunter defends online tactics |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-26550987 |work=BBC News |date=12 March 2014 |access-date=18 April 2025}}{{cite news |title=The Paedophile Hunter review – dark and disturbing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/oct/02/the-paedophile-hunter-review-dark-and-disturbing |work=The Guardian |date=2 October 2014 |access-date=18 April 2025}} is a British vigilante{{cite news |title=The Paedophile Hunter: Twitter reacts to vigilante Stinson Hunter in C4 documentary |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/the-paedophile-hunter-twitter-reacts-to-vigilante-stinson-hunter-in-c4-documentary-9769018.html |work=The Independent |date=2 October 2014 |access-date=18 April 2025}} who is best known for being the subject of the documentary The Paedophile Hunter.

He legally changed his name to Stinson Hunter by deed poll in response to repeated removal of his social media accounts for using a "fake name".{{cite news |title=Vigilante: I'm a normal guy – meet Stinson the paedophile hunter |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/10/26/vigilante-im-a-normal-guy-meet-stinson-the-paedophile-hunter/ |work=Shropshire Star |date=26 October 2014 |access-date=18 April 2025}} Hunter has openly discussed his personal challenges, including past struggles with alcohol, drug use, and serving a prison sentence for arson.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/the-paedophile-hunter-vigilante-s-success-adds-to-pressure-for-greater-police-resources-in-child-sex-crackdown-9763501.html |title=The Paedophile Hunter: Vigilante's success adds to pressure for greater police resources |newspaper=The Independent |date=1 October 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/stinson-hunter-opens-up-battle-10945091|title=Stinson Hunter opens up about battle with mental health and drug addiction|newspaper=Coventry Telegraph|date=24 February 2016}}

In a 2013 sting, Hunter confronted Michael Parkes over allegations of attempting to meet a child for sex. Parkes was subsequently arrested and later released by police. He died by suicide following the incident.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-26550987 |title=Man confronted by 'paedophile hunter' killed himself, coroner rules |publisher=BBC News |date=12 March 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/panewsfeeds/paedophile-hunt-man-killed-himself-9187945.html|title=Paedophile hunt man 'killed himself'|work=Evening Standard|date=12 March 2014}}

The 2015 film investigating child sexual exploitation was named "Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme" at the 42nd British Documentary Awards, which "celebrates documentaries from Britain and abroad that have made a significant contribution to the genre."{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34710079|title=British Documentary Awards 2015: Louis Theroux among winners|publisher=BBC News|date=3 November 2015}}

In 2017, The Guardian published an article referencing the film and reported there were an estimated 10 active paedophile hunting groups in the UK.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/24/paedophile-hunters-jeopardising-police-work-child-protection|title=Paedophile hunters jeopardising police work, says senior officer|first=Frances|last=Perraudin|newspaper=The Guardian|date=24 April 2017}} While the police are critical of such groups in public, they have reportedly provided advice privately. One group member said: "The police are like us. They’re human beings. They have families, so they understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it."

In January 2025, under his legal name Kieren Ashby, he was convicted of stalking a female journalist online.{{cite news|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/5163036/fife-based-paedophile-hunter-curfew-harassing-journalist/|title=Fife-based ‘paedophile hunter’ given curfew for harassing journalist|newspaper=The Courier|date=12 January 2025}} He appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted to conducting a stalking campaign that caused the journalist fear and alarm in January 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/paedophile-hunter-escapes-jail-after-34497209|title='Paedophile hunter' escapes jail after stalking reporter|newspaper=Daily Record|date=12 January 2025}} Ashby encouraged his 500,000 social media followers to send abusive messages to the journalist, whom he falsely accused of supporting paedophiles.

He was sentenced to 12 months of supervision, required to attend mental health services as directed, and placed under an electronic curfew from 7pm to 7am for eight months. The sheriff also issued a five-year non-harassment order prohibiting any contact with the journalist.{{cite news|url=https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/24865237.netflix-paedophile-shows-stinson-hunter-harassed-journalist/|title=Netflix 'paedophile hunter' harassed journalist|newspaper=Dunfermline Press|date=13 January 2025}}

In 2025, court documents referred to him as Kieren Ashby, suggesting he has since legally changed his name again.{{cite news |title='Paedophile hunter' spared jail after stalking reporter |url=https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2025/news/paedophile-hunter-spared-jail-after-stalking-reporter/ |work=Hold the Front Page |date=January 2025 |access-date=18 April 2025}} As of 2025, Hunter has not undertaken any recent sting operations, and there have been no further updates on any new investigations.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11133954/The-Paedophile-Hunter-Channel-4-review-disturbing.html|title=The Paedophile Hunter, Channel 4, review: 'disturbing'|first=Gerard|last=O'Donovan|date=1 October 2014|publisher=The Telegraph}}