News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Paedophile hunters ambushed a suspected sex offender outside a primary school, ignoring teachers' pleas to leave.

Staff at Blackhall Primary in Edinburgh sheltered the man inside the school as the vigilantes live-streamed from outside school gates.

Dozens of people then took to social media to castigate school staff for harbouring the man, who has been accused of sending indecent images to a 14-year-old boy.

Teachers can be heard during the live-stream pleading with the vigilantes to move away from the school as they may frighten children during lunchtime.

The incident will add to concern about the activities of paedophile hunters, who in some parts of the country have been threatened with arrest.

(Image: Deadline News)

The clip shows the group of men and women, who call themselves Groom Resisters Scotland, waiting outside the school to accost their suspect.

The video, live streamed today, has already been viewed 13,000 times.

The accused man, who appears from his clothing to work for an after-school group in the city, can be seen standing with a suitcase as the paedophile hunters accuse him of sending indecent images and messages to a 14-year-old boy.

Throughout the live-stream, the vigilantes read out parts of the messages alleged to have been between the man and someone posing as a 14-year-old boy.

The man denies the allegations, and after a few minutes of back and forth with them, a concerned teacher from the primary school arrives.

(Image: Deadline News)

The man tells the teacher everything is fine, adding: “They’re accusing me of sending pornographic information to a 14-year-old boy.”

As they all begin to talk over each other, the teacher can be heard saying: “Hang on a second, you’re all standing outside my school, ok, I’m just slightly concerned about the timing.

“My children are all about to come out of school. I’m sorry but you all actually look quite frightening, and I’m quite concerned for my children’s sake I would ask you not to be doing this right now.”

The Groom Resisters argue that they have called the police, and offer to move out of the way of the children.

After a few minutes of footage showing the vigilantes following the accused paedophile around while he calls his employer, he then heads into the school.

(Image: Deadline News)

This enrages them, and as they follow him across the road they try to stop him going in.

However, a male teacher at the school can be heard telling the group he has spoken to police and the man is allowed on the grounds as long as he goes into the staff room.

The teacher then asks: “Guys, do you think, this is a good way to do things?”

This angers the group even more, as they one man tells the thousands of people watching: “You’re not safeguarding children. A gentleman at the Blackhall Primary School is now allowing a possible paedophile to walk into a primary school.”

On social media, Jayne Millman said: “Disgusting if they have let the predator into the school then come out and tell you not to record the kids and parents, as if you would film kids and parents. The school needs reporting.”

(Image: Deadline News)

Susan Ward Mcmahon added: “It was explained to the teacher what he did and that police were called, she still chose to safeguard the beast and take him into school.”

Connie Cameron said: “God Head Teacher protecting him by allowing him in the school grounds. I hope all parents turn up and take their kids out.”

Tracy Spence commented: “I just phoned the school she hung up on me. Everyone phone the school, I can't believe the school are protecting this vile beast. Totally disgusted.”

Phil Anderson wrote: “Good job team, you did the right thing. The school needs shutting down ffs, on what planet do teachers take a predator into a f****** school.”

A spokeswoman for the after school group said today: "We don't have any information so we can't really comment on that."

Edinburgh Council said they were aware of the incident, but could not comment as the incident was still ongoing.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "Officers remain in attendance at a school in the Blackhall area after being called around 11.45am on Friday May 18.

"Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding this report."