A CONTROVERSIAL Southampton 'paedophile hunter' who posts videos of his stings online has been summoned to court.

Stephen Dure has hundreds of thousands of followers through his work as TRAP, a group of vigilantes who pose undercover through social media and messages as younger children in a bid to 'catch' alleged paedophiles online.

Now, Dure is facing prosecution after being summoned to court for allegedly sending a false message by public electronic communication network to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety.

The offence, if proven, brings a maximum six-months in prison, or a £5,000 fine, and relates to the period between November 28 last year until December 14.

A statement from Hampshire Constabulary said: "A 33-year-old man from Southampton has been reported for summons for sending false message by public electronic communication network to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety.

"This related to an investigation into false messages being sent between November and December 2017."