Editor’s note: On 3 February 2017, Kent Police confirmed that no offence had been committed by Mr Wollaston. The police released the following statement: 'A 48-year-old man arrested in Greenhithe on Tuesday 30 August 2016 on suspicion of grooming has been released without charge. Officers from Kent Police’s paedophile online investigation team carried out a full investigation into the allegations made against the man and found there was no evidence that grooming or any other offence had been committed.'

A former Croydon headteacher has been arrested on suspicion of grooming after a sting operation by a group of vigilante paedophile hunters.

Nicholas Wollaston, 48, who was head of Selsdon Primary School and Nursery between 2006 and 2013, was confronted by members of the self-styled "Internet Interceptors" group in Greenhithe, Kent, on Tuesday night.

In a filmed exchange later uploaded to YouTube, the vigilantes accuse Mr Wollaston of arranging to meet a 15-year-old boy for sex at a time when the teenager's mother was away.

During the confrontation, which lasts for several minutes, the former headteacher remains sitting in his car that has been blocked in by members of the group.

As members of the "Internet Interceptors" repeat their allegations, Mr Wollaston refuses to leave the vehicle, inaudible in the footage through the car window.

He is only heard to speak later in the footage when police officers arrive and arrest him.

Mr Wollaston, who currently works as a researcher as University College London (UCL), was previously deputy headteacher at Chipstead Valley Primary school between 2001 and 2005.

He later became headteacher at High View primary school in Wallington, before taking over at Selsdon Primary School and Nursery in Addington Road in 2006.

According to his Linkedin profile, Mr Wollaston also worked as a school inspector for an education consultancy firm.

His research focus at UCL is described as "the nature, prevalence and effectiveness of strategies used to prepare pupils for Key Stage 2 Maths Tests".

A spokeswoman for the university said: "We are aware of the allegation and are investigating further. We will take appropriate action as necessary and co-operate with any police enquiries.”

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "At 10.25pm on Tuesday, August 30, officers attended Courtyard Mews in Greenhithe and arrested a 48-year-old man on suspicion of grooming.

"He has been released on bail pending further enquiries until a date in February 2017."

The spokesman added that "a minor collision involving a car and a pedestrian was also reported at the scene prior to the arrival of police," although no serious injuries were reported.

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