A MAN has been freed after action by a group of vigilantes posing as a 14-year-old girl online.

The 58-year-old was arrested in Royston on Wednesday night after he was confronted by members of Child Protectors Scotland (CPS), who claimed they had been sending him messages, pretending to be an underage girl.

Police confirmed that a man was arrested and charged in connection with making indecent communications. The force added that he was due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, however, said he did not appear in court.

A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “The Procurator Fiscal received a report concerning a 58-year-old male in connection with alleged incidents between February 4 and June 10, 2020.

“The accused was liberated from custody and did not appear in court. The case against him remains live and under consideration.”

The CPS vigilantes said they gave statements to the police.

The two men who confronted the man also filmed the event.

On Wednesday night, a crowd formed at the base of the tower block, where it is believed he lives. Police set up a barrier before the entrance to the building.

The CPS told their followers to disperse as they filmed themselves confronting the man when he appeared at his flat door, looking unkempt in stained jogging trousers. He remained mostly silent as the CPS, who say they perform sting operations on people they suspect of being paedophiles, berated and insulted him.

At one point in the confrontation, the man rolled and smoked a cigarette.

A spokesman for the group said: “Our CPS founder was in direct contact with the police throughout the whole situation and we assisted the authorities by posting another live message asking people to step back and allow police to do their job.

“We applaud the residents of Royston for their community support in this matter.

“We would also like to express our gratitude to Police Scotland for the working relationship they continue to show to our team.”

It is thought the crowd, which gathered quickly at the base of the tower as news spread of the confrontation, was moved by the community’s memory of the horrific murder of Mark Cummings by another resident of a Charles Street tower block, Stuart Leggate.

Leggate was jailed for 20 years in 2004 for raping and murdering the eight-year-old and disposing of his body down a refuse chute.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Around 5.35pm on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, police received a report of indecent communication being made online.

“A 58-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with this. He is due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court today, Thursday, 11 June, 2020."

“A number of people gathered at the property in Charles Street, Royston and an officer was hurt as a result. A 39-year-old man was arrested in connection with this. A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”