24-year-old from shepton mallet charged with alleged child sex offences after facebook sting video goes viral

A man from Shepton Mallet has been charged after an online sting by a vigilante group was filmed and shared widely on Facebook.

Police confirmed the arrest came after footage appeared online showing members of a group confronting a man during a planned operation in the town.

In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said: "We have charged a 24-year-old man with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity.

"James Clohessy, 24, of Shepton Mallet, has been remanded in custody until a hearing at Taunton Crown Court on Friday 21 November."

The video has since been viewed thousands of times and shared across social media. Police have warned people not to post or comment on the footage while court proceedings are under way.

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