King's College staffer resigns after catfishing incident with fake minor

• A King’s College staff member resigned after admitting to inappropriate online activity with a fake identity.
• Police found no criminal offences as the “victim” was not a real person.
• The fake profile involved an adult pretending to be a 15-year-old online to “catch a sex offender”.

By Melanie Earley of RNZ

A staff member at one of the country’s most prestigious schools who resigned after admitting to “inappropriate online activity” with a minor was catfished by a fake identity.

The staff member, who was involved with football and boarding, admitted to the activity, King’s College confirmed in October.

The school’s principal notified police, who later found no criminal offences had been committed by the man.

Documents released to RNZ under the Official Information Act, have shown the staffer was talking to what he believed was a 15-year-old boy online, but the identity was fake, nullifying any possible charges.

King's College. Photo / NZME

A heavily redacted letter sent to King’s College headmaster Simon Lamb from police, said online contact “of a sexual nature” was actively sought online by a person who created a fake identity claiming to be 15 years old.

The staffer was “lured into this catfishing scam”, police said.

The offence being investigated was indecent communication with a young person, but police said the victim needed to be a real person.

“Therefore the fake identity nullified the offending.

“Only constables can create covert underage identities to gather evidence that can be used lawfully against such offenders.”

As a result, police told Lamb they could take no action in relation to the alleged sexual offences.

In the police’s case summary report, it mentioned the staffer had admitted he had “dabbled” in online sexual behaviour with minors.

Detective Sergeant Robert Kerr said the fake profile involved an adult pretending to be a 15-year-old online to “catch a sex offender”.

- RNZ