Telford man on the hunt for paedophiles

But he's not looking for love. Or to make new friends. And many of the people who reply to his profile will probably very quickly live to regret it. Posing as an under-age schoolgirl, Richard is a self-styled 'paedophile hunter', and founder of the newly formed Child Protection Group Online.

Mr Teszke, from Telford, is one of a new breed of citizen detective, who take it upon themselves to smoke out people who could otherwise be causing harm.

He is happy to be named but asked for his face to be obscured in case it compromises his work.

Police respect the motives of the citizen paedophile hunter but are also concerned at the impact of those who take it upon themselves to trap sexual offenders.

Detectives say those who are targeted by people like Richard Teszke and Stinson Hunter are already on their radar.

The intervention of civilians can compromise a police operation that may be at a crucial stage.

Chief Inspector Sarah Chaloner, of West Mercia Police, says protecting children is a complex issue which should be left to the police and other law enforcement agencies.

She says the force treats it as a priority, and has for some years been increasing its resources into investigating abuse, prosecuting offenders and protecting vulnerable children.

She said: "West Mercia Police understands that people may want to do all they can to protect children, but certain actions may put vulnerable people, children and police investigations at risk.

"Those they target could destroy evidence before police have a chance to take action and they could very easily jeopardise ongoing police investigations.

"They could put children at risk of harm, for example by an abuser who feels targeted or threatened, or the police or other agencies not being able to put measures in place to protect abused children as they would do in their own investigations."

Mrs Chaloner says amateur investigators also run the risk of unwittingly compromising police investigations.

By contrast, Cheshire police have a less critical line, although officersalso warn about the dangers of untrained members of the public getting involved.

A Cheshire police spokesman said: "We welcome any information submitted , however public safety is always at the forefront of our minds.

Mr Teszke says that within 10 minutes of posting his first profile in February this year, he found himself in conversation with a suspected paedophile.

Within a few weeks a man, from the Winsford area of Cheshire, was arrested, and he is now due to appear before Chester Crown Court.

Of course, no reputable dating website will accept adverts from children, so gaining the confidence of would-be sex offenders takes a fair bit of cunning.

He says: "I will put on my profile that I am 18, and will put on a picture of a friend who has allowed me to use her picture, but looks younger than her age.

"When I get a reply, I will tell them that I am really only 15, 14 or whatever, and say that if they don't want to talk to me, then I will understand."

The sensible ones will take the hint. But a disturbing number choose to continue the conversation, and very often the talk soon becomes sexual.

"I get messages from all over this area," he says. "I get replies from people in Telford, Shrewsbury, Dudley, Birmingham.

"Some of them are innocent, saying things like 'you need to be careful on this site', but with many it soon becomes a sexual conversation.

"I've had responses where they send indecent images. It's really worrying.

"Sometimes it takes a while, but there are other times when it can be almost instant.

"They will often ask how I feel when it comes to talking about sex. That is a classic grooming technique, to try to gain the child's confidence."

But, like the more high-profile paedophile hunter Stinson Hunter, his methods have attracted a mixed response from police.

When Mr Teszke first handed the details of the Winsford man to Cheshire Police, officers from the West Mercia force were sent to take a statement from him.

However, later the same day, he received a call from an inspector who made it clear he was not at all impressed with his work.

"Upon meeting the inspector, he read out a statement, which was actually meant for Stinson Hunter, detailing that what I'm doing poses a danger for myself and for the person I'm investigating.

"He also went on to say that my methods cause a risk to evidence being destroyed. I aimed to reassure him, and give my side as to what I do which actually resulted in the Inspector just standing up and walking off."

Mr Teszke, who admits to falling foul of the law in his youth, is keen to distance himself from the work of Stinson Hunter, who poses as a child in order to lure suspected paedophiles to meet him, and capture them on film.

Hunter's investigation led former Telford bookmaker Martin Currier last month being handed a 36-month community order after attempting to lure a 13-year-old girl to meet him. Hunter's efforts have led to 22 convictions. However, his controversial methods have been much criticised by police, and Richard also questions some of his tactics.

"The fact that I was compared to Stinson Hunter, was flattering, however irresponsible," he says.

"My methods of investigation are done to actually help the police and other agencies. In no way, would I consider meeting the person that I'm investigating."

Mr Teszke says it was becoming a father himself which made him decide he wanted to do something to protect youngsters from online predators, and also a desire to make up for his youthful indiscretions which include a conviction for burglary.

"I have a child, I have nieces and and a nephew," he says.

"I would rather put myself in the firing line to individuals with predatory behaviour than it be an actual child that faces them.

"Believe me, I've seen what it is like on certain sites."

He says he is mystified by the hostility to his work and says he will continue in his bid to snare potential sex offenders before they get the opportunity to abuse children.