I honestly thought that it would be a good companion to my film, and they could work alongside each other in the battle for a safer future.
However I fear it did a lot more harm than good, because the film came across completely biased.
They seemed to be trying to rebrand paedophilia and make you feel sorry for paedophiles. And they could have succeeded, had they done a better job with the documentary.
I may not have all the answers or capability to make a better film-I probably could one day, but I feel that Channel 4 dropped the ball with this one.
They did so well with ‘The Paedophile Hunter’ and people got the message, credit mainly to Dan Reed for being such an outstanding filmmaker.
However I felt with ‘The Paedophile Next Door’ it just didn’t connect emotionally.
I didn’t feel anything for ‘virtuous paedophile’ Eddie and I should have done.
I also didn’t believe Eddie one little bit, in regards to him not acting on his urges.
The fact he has admitted to viewing child abuse images on camera is worrying enough, even if he claims to have never done it again.
The filmmaker should have made me feel some kind of emotion
The whole thing feels forced, as though Eddie has been pushed into this.
I don’t think we are getting the full story from him or the filmmaker, which is sad because I fully expected to have my opinions and thoughts challenged.
But ‘The Paedophile Next Door’ left me with one question: What was the point of that film?
The filmmaker should have made me feel some kind of emotion- if only for me to question why I was having this emotion.
But for me there was nothing there, I was more moved by the adverts.
The Paedophile Hunter
A film I had been working on with Dan Reed and Tom Costello called ‘The Paedophile Hunter’ aired October 2nd on Channel 4.
If you haven’t seen it I implore you to head over to 4OD and give it a watch.
I had the absolute honour to work with one of the best British directors for this film.
He gave me the chance to articulate to the public the real issue we all face when considering Internet safety.
Although shocking, it is something I have dedicated myself to, and believe it's something we all should be aware of.
Internet dating has lost its stigma, chat rooms and chat apps are freely available.
I want to reintroduce caution to the public.
The Middle
The night of the film was probably the most nervous I have ever been in my entire life.
I don’t get nervous or scared, but I was concerned that people would completely miss the point of the film and just focus on who I was in a former life.
But to my surprise people generally focused on the message, the cause, and believed in the work I do, as well as in me. This all meant more to me than people will probably ever realise.
I have received a lot of backlash involving claims that I am just a fame hunter. But I was involved in this project a long time before the media attention.
I don't charge for my interviews, and don't believe people should have to pay to hear my opinions.
It's a privilege for me to be able to have this platform of communication.
The future
Before my accident in June 2013, when I was involved in a serious hit and run, I had never considered my future. Whilst out on a job, meeting a man who was under the impression he was to meet an underage girl for sex, I was ran over.
I broke both my ankles, suffered serious head injuries, both shoulders were damaged. This gave me the determination to throw myself even harder into my work.
Whilst meeting a man who was under the impression he was to meet an underage girl for sex in 2013 I was ran over
I often sit and think about the future.
If you had asked me 5 years ago where I thought I would be now, there is no way I could have predicted I would be living in a house, with my girlfriend and son, my own office, paying bills and collecting receipts for the taxman.
It may sounds normal to you, but if someone had told me that, I would have spat whatever alcoholic drink I had in my mouth in your face.
I have a new perspective on life now, I see a future and would like to think I can carry on the work I am currently doing, but also have a ‘proper job’ where I can earn a wage.
I am hoping that I will find something that I can really get my teeth into- TV presenting, radio, writing?
For the first time I am open to anything- life is about experiences and challenging yourself.
Don’t just accept what is classed as ‘the norm’ and don’t do what people expect you to do.
If you never try and if you never fail then you can never succeed.”
Written by Stinson Hunter