Crowd trashes man's home after finding out about sick behaviour

Vandals trashed a paedophile's house after discovering sickening messages he sent to a 'girl'.

David Hampson sent a series of vile messages to who he thought was a 13-year-old girl. But today, his sickening messages saw him jailed on his 60th birthday, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Hampson had contacted a decoy Facebook account set up by paedophile hunter group Sacred Souls on March 31 this year, Liverpool Crown Court was told. Hampson was informed that the supposed girl was aged 13, but still sent her a string of lewd messages over the next four days.

Louise Santamera, prosecuting, described how he was "initially friendly", but "at times rather persistent and insistent". The pervert subsequently "encouraged her to take her knickers off" and "asked her to touch herself between her legs".

Evidence of his messages was passed on to a second volunteer group, Stop UK, who informed Merseyside Police. Officers then attended Hampson's home in Huyton, Merseyside, on April 4 after a "large crowd gathered outside" to "protest against" him, having "somehow or other found out" about his behaviour.

He was arrested at the scene, with a pink iPhone, a silver iPad and a second blue mobile being seized. The then 59-year-old confessed to PCs that he had been responsible for the explicit conversations, but gave no comment to detectives under interview and refused to hand over his pin number.

Ken Heckle, defending, told the court that his client was "shameful and very embarrassed", adding: "What a way to spend one's 60th birthday. Sadly it is the defendant's 60th today, in custody.

"When challenged, he does accept sexual gratification. He wants to change his life around. He needs help. He regrets what he has done and he is remorseful.

"While I