RIOT ACT
Sheriff slams ‘paedo hunter’ pair who lured violent 300-strong mob to Dundee estate
David Young and Caroline Linning triggered a mass police response
A VIGILANTE duo who livestreamed a riot on a housing estate after luring a 300-strong mob to the scene have walked free from court.
Self-styled paedophile hunters David Young and Caroline Linning triggered a mass police response - involving 50 officers - in Dundee.
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Former care worker Linning, 47, and Young, 57, had travelled across the country to target the home of child sex offender Scott Bambrick.
But they lost control of their plan to drive the man out of his home when hundreds of people arrived in the town’s Douglas estate and began rioting.
Dozens of cops including 12 specially-trained public order officers were called to the chaotic scenes on September 2, 2022, as the mob launched eggs, pieces of wood and metal poles at the property.
And as the tension rose, Young and Linning became the target of violence as furious locals turned on them.
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The pair appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court where they admitted shouting and swearing and encouraging others, repeatedly broadcasting Bambrick’s details and criminal background, and breaching the peace.
Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith told them: “Your direct actions encouraged others to congregate near a block of flats in Douglas with the sole intention of having an occupant removed.
“You caused a tumultuous crowd of 250 to 300 to attend. The crowd spiralled out of control and disorder broke out, with the result that over 50 police officers had to attend.
“Your attendance in Dundee was planned, the commission of the offence was pre-meditated. You made the informed decision to drive to Dundee.
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“Mr Young, you were very much the ringmaster. You would have recognised your conduct could lead to full-scale rioting. There was real potential for danger.”
Fiscal depute Kate Scarborough told the court: “Both are part of a group called the Scottish Justice team, described by police as an online vigilante group.”
She said cops backed a van to the door of the property to extract Bambrick and his pregnant partner and a young child over fears for their safety.
The accused were both traced through their Facebook livestream with Young telling his online audience: “They spat in Caroline’s face. They were hitting me and throwing stuff at me.
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“It was very, very scary the way the community treated us. Tonight was the wildest night - it was like something out of the OK Corral.”
Both were placed under 18 months’ supervision, with Young also hit with a restriction of liberty order and Linning ordered to carry out 270 hours unpaid work.
Bambrick, originally from Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, was jailed for six years at the High Court in Edinburgh after being convicted of sexually assaulting a three year old girl and two toddlers.