A vigilante “paedophile hunter” has been spared jail after urging half a million online followers to target a journalist who feared she would be attacked at her home.

Kieren Ashby, pictured, better known as Stinson Hunter, admitted conducting a stalking campaign that caused fear and harm to the unnamed journalist, who is based in the west of Scotland.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how self-styled “journalist” Ashby, 43, had struck up a relationship with the reporter, who saw him as a source of stories.

But when personal details relating to Ashby were published online, he blamed the journalist and publicly accused her of backing paedophiles.

This and several Facebook videos led to hate-filled messages and threats from Ashby’s supporters.

According to a Daily Record report, the court heard of the significant effect the harassment has had on the journalist’s life.

She changed her car in a bid to avoid being identified and closed her social media account, losing work contacts as a result.

Sheriff Louise Gallacher placed Ashby, of Dunfermline, under social work supervision for 12 months and said he must attend mental health services as directed.

HTFP reported in 2015 how the Sheffield Star had highlighted concerns over Hunter’s activities on its patch.

His journalistic credentials were also previously questioned by Burton Mail columnist Steve Ashby, while Hunter’s hometown paper the Nuneaton News backed his plans to “take his crusade to parliament”.