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 with TRAP, a group of vigilantes who pose undercover through social media and send messages posing as children in a bid to 'catch' 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.

It relates to the period between November 28 last year until December 14.

Learning of the news, Dure said that he knew 'he would be at the top of the police's list'.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, he said: "I have been expecting it for a while now.

"After the reaction of Simon Bailey (police chief constable) in September, I have seen in the headlines that officers are going to be investigating about 180 hunters.

"I knew I would be at the top of that list. Why they're not spending that money on catching paedophiles, I don't know.

"They just want to silence us.

"In terms of the summons, I am keeping tight lipped, but it does relate to my work with TRAP."

Hampshire Constabulary did not wish to respond to the criticism.

Southampton Magistrates' Court confirmed he is due to face magistrates on February 26.

CPS said that as the matter had not yet been heard, they could not add any further details.

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."