Stinson Hunter
British vigilante
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stinson Hunter (born Kieren Parsons)[1][2] is a British vigilante[3] who is best known for being the subject of the documentary The Paedophile Hunter.
Stinson Hunter | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kieren Parsons |
| Other names | Kieren Ashby |
| Occupations | Vigilante, documentary subject |
| Known for | The Paedophile Hunter (Channel 4 documentary) |
| Criminal charge | Stalking (2023) |
| Criminal penalty | Supervision, curfew, non-harassment order |
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".[4] Hunter has openly discussed his personal challenges, including past struggles with alcohol, drug use, and serving a prison sentence for arson.[5][6]
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.[7][8]
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."[9]
In 2017, The Guardian published an article referencing the film and reported there were an estimated 10 active paedophile hunting groups in the UK.[10] 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."[10]
In January 2025, under his legal name Kieren Ashby, he was convicted of stalking a female journalist online.[11] He appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted to conducting a stalking campaign that caused the journalist fear and alarm in January 2023.[12] Ashby encouraged his 500,000 social media followers to send abusive messages to the journalist, whom he falsely accused of supporting paedophiles.[11]
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.[13] The sheriff also issued a five-year non-harassment order prohibiting any contact with the journalist.[14]
In 2025, court documents referred to him as Kieren Ashby, suggesting he has since legally changed his name again.[13] As of 2025, Hunter has not undertaken any recent sting operations, and there have been no further updates on any new investigations.[15][6]