‘Perth Pedo Hunters’ conduct their own sting

Editor's Note: language warning on the videos.

Citizens once again took justice into their own hands when a pair of men from Armadale decided to create an account on Grindr for a 14-year-old boy named "Jarrod."  They reported that within five minutes of creating the account they had received 30 messages from adult men throughout Perth wanting to engage in sex acts with a child.

"The way we look at it is, if it wasn't us it could actually be a 14-year-old person meeting that adult so, I'd rather it be us than some innocent kid," one of the men, who asked not to be named said when speaking exclusively with 9News.

One of the men that messaged the fake account showed up at Creyk Park in Kelmscott to meet the child on the morning of October 22, and the two men videoed* the confrontation before enacting a citizen's arrest and calling the police.

They turned over the man's cell phone as well as their evidence, including the video to police, and as a result 61-year-old Russ Alan Portelli was charged with intent to procure a person believed to be under 16 years for sexual activity.

Police reportedly later preformed a search warrant at the man's residence and confiscated electronic equipment.

Since the sting last week, the pair have uploaded another video* to their YouTube channel showing the confrontation of another man, 38, that had contacted "Jarrod" and tried to meet up with him.  The second man though, ran before police arrived to the park.

"These are the kind of people that are trying to talk to your children," the men said to 9News.  "You want to be careful what your kids do online ... always look out for them."

They have stated their intention to continue the online hunt in an effort to help the community.