AN online vigilante group who reported a Galashiels man to police for alleged grooming offences has made a plea for its supporters to leave his family alone.

Peter Mulvey appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday to face two charges of breaching the communications act following the sting operation by Wolf Pack Hunters UK.

The case has been continued until next month for a legal debate between his defence team and the crown over the charges.

But hours after the online video of the 41-year-old being apprehended by members of Wolf Pack Hunters UK his family began to receive abuse.

The anti-grooming group has now issued a plea to 'leave the family and friends of Peter Mulvey alone. An innocent woman in her eighties has had to flee to London due to ongoing abuse. Please stop it now'.