{"id":637717,"date":"2025-12-17T08:18:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T08:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/637717\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T08:18:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T08:18:31","slug":"the-sex-offender-pointing-a-camera-in-your-face","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/637717\/","title":{"rendered":"The sex offender pointing a camera in your face"},"content":{"rendered":"

INVESTIGATION: He has built a huge online following by filming the \u201cgood, bad and ugly\u201d of Britain\u2019s streets – but the YouTuber behind DJE Media is a convicted sex offender whose content is now under intense scrutiny. Stephen Topping reports.\"CurtisCurtis Arnold posts through his DJE Media channel(Image: Reach PLC \/ DJE Media)<\/p>\n

He\u2019s the YouTuber<\/a> with more than 250,000 subscribers who promises to deliver \u2018independent journalism with a twist\u2019. But Curtis Arnold, the man behind DJE Media, is a convicted sex offender who is monitored by Thames Valley Police.<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old hit national headlines in February 2023 after filming the body of Nicola Bulley<\/a> being pulled from the River Wyre in Lancashire. Now, he makes money by filming people in cities across the country and sharing the posts on social media.<\/p>\n

In February 2019, Arnold appeared at Harrow Crown Court<\/a> in north west London to be sentenced after pleading guilty to 12 counts of fraud, and one count each of voyeurism, causing a person to engage in sexual activity and making indecent images of a victim aged under 18. He had been found posing as a modelling agent to take images of women in gyms before posting them online without consent to sell his fitness products.<\/p>\n

Harrow Crown Court confirmed Arnold was sentenced to 40 months in prison, before this was later reduced to 34 months, the court told the Manchester Evening News. He was also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) – a type of court order, monitored by police, which restricts certain behaviours – and added to the sex offenders register for a decade.<\/p>\n

The SHPO was also issued for 10 years and remains in force until February 2029. But this was far from Arnold’s only brush with the law. He has a number of previous convictions for a range of offences, most recently in November this year, when he received a suspended four-month prison sentence for trespass on a protected site.<\/p>\n

\"CurtisCurtis Arnold is a frequent visitor to Manchester(Image: Reach PLC \/ DJE Media)<\/p>\n

The type of content Arnold produces has been criticised by leaders in Manchester in recent weeks. Council leader Bev Craig told the Manchester Evening News last month<\/a> that \u2018some YouTubers and influencers are exacerbating negative perceptions, sometimes with their own agendas\u2019 – particularly regarding Piccadilly Gardens<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And while accepting \u2018there are\u2019 social problems and crime in Manchester, mayor Andy Burnham<\/a> recently told BBC Radio Manchester\u2019s Hotseat programme<\/a>: \u201cThey are promoting a negative image of the city and they are doing it for political reasons. We do not need agent provocateurs.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Arnold believes he is performing a public service and claims he is helping the police with his work. He told the Manchester Evening News: \u201cIf you are going to behave badly in public – you can expect to be filmed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018The good, bad and ugly\u2019<\/p>\n

Arnold, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, spends several hours filming content for each video before editing the footage down for YouTube. The end result can often be as long as a feature film.<\/p>\n

He previously posted as Curtis Media, but renamed his channels to DJE Media in videos posted after coming under fire for his actions during Nicola Bulley\u2019s disappearance. When asked for his name by members of the public in his videos, Arnold replies: \u201cDan.\u201d<\/p>\n

As well as 251,000 YouTube subscribers, DJE Media has 388,000 followers on Facebook, almost 224,000 followers on TikTok and more than 37,000 followers on X. Some of his clips on Facebook have been watched millions of times.<\/p>\n

Arnold says he uses a number of devices – including a drone, spy glasses, a handheld camera and a bodyworn camera. Occasionally in his videos, Arnold can be seen using his phone to get certain footage.<\/p>\n

The description for his YouTube channel says: \u201cShowing the GOOD, BAD and UGLY of Society. Travelling the UK and further afield showing you how life is!\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier videos on the channel show Arnold taking part in \u2018auditing\u2019, with clips featuring his interactions with police and security staff at various premises. In more recent months, Arnold has focused his work on city centres and outside hotels which are being used to house asylum seekers.<\/p>\n

His videos are given provocative titles which emphasise how \u2018crazy\u2019 each place is. His recent videos from Manchester include \u2018MENTALLY INSANE PICCADILLY ZOMBIES ARE AGGRESSIVE MY GOD !!!\u2019, \u2018MANCHESTER\u2019s FERAL FEEDING FRENZY – the UK\u2019s CRAZIEST CITY EXPOSED !!!!!\u2019 and \u2018MANCHESTER – 3RD WORLD SINISTER DEMONS STRIKE AGAIN !!!\u2019.<\/p>\n

Manchester isn\u2019t the only city that Arnold focuses on, but it has been a regular target of his attention. The bulk of his videos from the city feature scenes filmed around Piccadilly Gardens<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The area’s problems are well-known and regularly reported on by the Manchester Evening News – including a special report on a full day<\/a> spent in the notorious location, extensive coverage of plans to overhaul the area<\/a>, and the challenges of policing Piccadilly Gardens<\/a>. Major criminal incidents are also covered, and in every article, care is taken to protect those who are vulnerable.<\/p>\n

Those who feature in Arnold’s videos include homeless<\/a> people, people who appear to be under the influence of drugs or mentally unwell, and partygoers on a night out in town. They also regularly include clips showing police activity, including stop-searches and arrests.<\/p>\n

\"AArnold regularly features police activity in his footage(Image: X\/YouTube\/DJE Media)<\/p>\n

One recent video includes footage of a young woman during a night out on Canal Street. She is with a young man who says he is her boyfriend, and she is seen involved in altercations with a number of people.<\/p>\n

However, people close to her in the video are audibly concerned for her welfare. There are suggestions by those around her that she may have been spiked.<\/p>\n

One woman, who is seen trying to calm the situation down, asks Arnold: \u201cWhy are you videoing people without their consent?\u201d He replies: \u201cBecause she\u2019s fighting in public, that\u2019s why.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later in the footage, the woman at the centre of the altercation is seen being consoled by her boyfriend while sat on the ground. As Arnold walks past, the young man asks: \u201cAre you videoing? Don\u2019t video.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arnold replies: \u201cI\u2019ll video who I want, and you\u2019re not going to do f*** all about it. You\u2019re gonna take your missus and you\u2019re gonna f*** off.\u201d<\/p>\n

A short time later, the woman tells Arnold: \u201cHow dare you film me when I\u2019m in a vulnerable state? How dare you. How dare you. It\u2019s weird and it\u2019s f***** up, you shouldn\u2019t film anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ThamesThames Valley Police monitors Arnold(Image: Buckinghamshire Live \/ Darren Pepe)<\/p>\n

The couple walk away, before a second man approaches the boyfriend, sparking further confrontation. Asked about this footage, Arnold told the Manchester Evening News: \u201cShe was not filmed before she started on everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

After being approached by the Manchester Evening News, Thames Valley Police confirmed it was considering the footage to establish whether it represented a breach of Arnold\u2019s SHPO. A force spokesperson said: \u201cThank you for contacting Thames Valley Police and for the information provided regarding the video in Manchester.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will review this information to establish if any criminal offences have been committed and we will take action accordingly. If you are aware of any additional information which indicates that an offence has taken place, please contact Thames Valley Police on 101 or via our website.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018He needs some serious help this guy\u2019<\/p>\n

In one part of his most recent videos in Manchester, Arnold films a man who appears to be checking discarded take-away boxes and plates for scraps of food, while wearing a face covering on his forehead. \u201cLooking for summat to eat this guy,\u201d Arnold says.<\/p>\n

When the man walks away, Arnold asks: \u201cYou cleaning, yeah? Cleaning or hungry?\u201d The video then cuts to Arnold approaching a police officer in a van, asking in reference to the man: \u201cYou\u2019re not looking for a guy with a blue bandana are you?\u201d The officer replies \u2018no\u2019.<\/p>\n

Later in the video, Arnold can be seen running through backstreets in the Northern Quarter<\/a>, before finding two officers speaking to the same man. \u201cOh, so they were looking for this guy,\u201d Arnold says.<\/p>\n

\"CurtisCurtis Arnold shares his content to a variety of platforms(Image: Reach PLC \/ DJE Media)<\/p>\n

He goes on to film the exchange, which turns out to be a stop-search. Officers fail to find him carrying any contraband, and the man is allowed to leave – yet Arnold continues to follow him as he walks away.<\/p>\n

At one point, the man makes a loud panting sound while walking, and appears to be in distress. Arnold moves to the man\u2019s side so his face comes into view.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot sure what he did wrong to get detained, but certainly, very unnerving behaviour,\u201d Arnold says. He later adds: \u201cHe\u2019s definitely on something, or if he\u2019s not then he needs some serious help this guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man goes on to face Arnold and appears to put his hands up, before walking away. In total, seven minutes of footage are dedicated to a man who appears to have done nothing wrong.<\/p>\n

On some occasions, Arnold shows a phone box outside Piccadilly Gardens – and those who go in and out of it – where he claims people are smoking crack inside. \u201cWell you can take the crack out of Crackadilly but you can\u2019t take the crackhead out of Crackadilly,\u201d he says in one video.<\/p>\n

Arnold publishes short clips from his longer videos on his Facebook, X and TikTok pages, often with provocative captions. Recent clips shared on Facebook from his exploits in Manchester include \u2018Crackhead Shows TRUE COLOURS\u2019, \u2018SPICEY ATTACK\u2019 and \u2018DEMON in MANCHESTER\u2019.<\/p>\n

Each of those clips show a different man in Piccadilly Gardens who appears to be in a vulnerable state. The clear implication is that those involved are under the influence of drugs.<\/p>\n

\u2018DEMON in MANCHESTER\u2019 begins with a man swiping away at Arnold\u2019s arm. It appears to show the man being aggressive to Arnold. The clip has been viewed more than three million times on Facebook.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Facebook version of the clip, seen more than three million times, begins with Arnold appearing to defend himself – but it is taken from a longer YouTube video(Image: DJE Media \/ Facebook)<\/p>\n

But it begins without context. In the full video on YouTube, Arnold can be seen filming the man, before he replies: \u201cF*** you.\u201d Arnold then approaches the man and continues to record him, and the confrontation seen on Facebook comes more than two minutes later.<\/p>\n

Following friendly interactions, Arnold regularly shows clips of himself buying food for homeless people he has spoken to as part of his videos. But in several cases, those recorded request not to be filmed and appear to be in a difficult situation.<\/p>\n

Hendrix Lancaster, co-founder of Manchester charity Coffee4Craig which supports people experiencing street homelessness, believes it is \u2018exploitation for profit\u2019. \u201cThe people targeted in these videos aren’t characters or content,\u201d he told the Manchester Evening News<\/p>\n

\u201cThey’re human beings facing some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable, often dealing with complex trauma, addiction, mental health crises, and systemic failures that have left them without safe housing. What Arnold and others like him are doing isn’t journalism or social commentary – it’s exploitation for profit, both financial, personal and egocentric profiting.<\/p>\n

“The individuals filmed are stripped of dignity at their most vulnerable moments, denied consent – many don’t realise they’re being filmed or understand how widely it will be shared – dehumanised through language like \u2018crackheads\u2019 and put at further risk through public identification, which can jeopardise their safety, relationships, and any progress toward recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s disgusting what you do\u2019<\/p>\n

Arnold\u2019s content may be widely watched, but it is not universally popular. His actions are regularly challenged, either in comments underneath his social media posts or in person while recording videos.<\/p>\n

In his Halloween video, one woman filmed at Piccadilly Gardens told Arnold: \u201cYou\u2019re disgusting\u2026 it\u2019s disgusting what you do. It\u2019s vile.\u201d<\/p>\n

The encounter was shared on Facebook with the caption \u2018HELLISH HALLOWEEN KAREN\u2019. In the comments underneath, one viewer wrote: \u201cValid points I thought she raised.\u201d His comment was liked 334 times.<\/p>\n

\"CurtisCurtis Arnold (left) introduces his Halloween video, telling viewers he is in ‘Picca-demon Gardens'(Image: DJE Media)<\/p>\n

Replying to the clip titled \u2018Crackhead Shows TRUE COLOURS\u2019, a viewer said: \u201cTry putting the camera down and just talk to him normally. He\u2019s getting arsey because you’re in his face with cameras. Find out what put him down that path.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of his latest videos, filmed outside of Manchester, has attracted a slew of criticism. In a post on Facebook captioned \u2018SANTA SEES RED – Bournemouth crackhead goes loopy over camera\u2019, a video shows a man in a Santa hat tell Arnold: \u201cYou\u2019re f****** bothering me and filming people.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turns away, but after Arnold replies with \u2018I\u2019ll film you if I wanna film you\u2019, the man returns and appears to swipe at the camera. He tells Arnold: \u201cJust take your camera away from me bro.\u201d Arnold replies: \u201cYou wanna go for it, yeah? You wanna go for it?\u201d<\/p>\n

In comments underneath, several Facebook users have criticised Arnold\u2019s actions. One wrote: \u201cSounds like the guy that filming sounds like he’s looking for a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another said: “The guy with the Santa’s hat he’s in the right.\u201d A third added: \u201cSeems more harassment than filming. I don’t know what happened before. I’m sure the cameraman had a story to tell his little mates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arnold addressed the criticism directly, commenting: \u201cTo all those moaning, when it\u2019s your misses or kid that he flips at and swipes, you will see it differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018She don\u2019t want to be recorded\u2019<\/p>\n

In another video, viewed 634,000 times on YouTube, Arnold captures a group of youths who appear to be fighting outside Piccadilly Gardens. A girl can be seen injured on the ground.<\/p>\n

A short time later, the girl is seen back on her feet, with her head in her hands. She is being comforted by a boy, and the pair are followed by Arnold.<\/p>\n

\u201cYo, yo, yo, yo, yo – get that camera near me and I\u2019ll smash your head in,\u201d he shouts to Arnold, while continuing to help the girl. Another boy then approaches Arnold with his hand up, saying: \u201cDon\u2019t record her. She don\u2019t want to be recorded.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arnold continues to follow them as they walk past Piccadilly Gardens, before the girl is seen collapsing onto the ground. Her face is blurred out for most, but not all, of the footage.<\/p>\n

Later in the video, Arnold is seen showing footage of the fight to a police officer, and telling officers he will share the clip. When approached by the Manchester Evening News., Arnold claimed that there have been multiple occasions where his footage has been used by police in this way.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cGMP have requested my footage approx 13 times in the last few months, or incidents in that exact area [Piccadilly Gardens].\u201d Arnold also claimed an offender was later convicted in court for an incident which he caught on camera.<\/p>\n

GMP told the Manchester Evening News Arnold has assisted officers with investigations. It said Arnold\u2019s footage is \u2018good quality\u2019, while he is \u2018happy to help and support\u2019 officers where necessary.<\/p>\n

\"GMPGMP Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes(Image: ABNM Photography)<\/p>\n

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes added: \u201dWe\u2019re aware of the growing trend in our city-region of people provoking incidents which they can film and upload online for their own personal gain. These incidents often involve our own officers and make some really challenging scenarios even more complex.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere we can, we look to work with partners to address these behaviours that can cause disruption or distress for the public. Of course, we operate within the law as it stands, and our powers are limited where no crime is committed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur focus remains on proactive, community-led policing where local neighbourhood teams are engaging with residents and partners to tackle the issues that matter most to our communities. We aim to reduce the types of incidents that attract unwanted attention and ensure Greater Manchester is a safe, welcoming place for all who live, visit, and work in our city-region.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s understood the GMP is not currently investigating Arnold for any criminal offences in the region. Asked whether his videos exploited vulnerable people, and what consideration he gave prior to videos being published, Arnold told the Manchester Evening News: \u201cMany many times the locals on the street now who know me will ask not to be in the video and I agree and don\u2019t [include them].<\/p>\n

“Careful consideration does go into what\u2019s published and sometimes I will get a message days later requesting a face blur or video removal and a lot of the time I will comply. Most videos go from eight hours of footage down to one.<\/p>\n

“In my opinion the videos are a help to the police and a deterrent to anyone there openly taking class A drugs or fighting not to do it, otherwise expect it to be filmed. I also believe that those who are on the street shouldn\u2019t be provoked on camera purposely and furthermore if they are nice or respectful to us we should give some back and buy them some food or a hotel room which I have many times.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"PiccadillyPiccadilly Gardens is often the centre of Arnold’s attention(Image: Christopher Furlong\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

But Coffee4Craig co-founder Hendrix believes content like Arnold\u2019s \u2018doesn’t raise awareness or generate solutions\u2019 that truly help people who are struggling. \u201cIt generates revenue through sensationalism whilst reinforcing harmful stereotypes that make it even harder for vulnerable people to access support, employment, or housing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Hendrix added: \u201cArnold and others are monetising human misery without facing any meaningful consequences. Meanwhile, the people they film face increased stigma and discrimination, threats to their safety from viewers who recognise them, barriers to accessing services, housing, and employment, and psychological harm from being publicly ridiculed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need stronger protections for vulnerable people, clearer guidelines around consent and exploitation, and platforms like YouTube to take responsibility for the content they host and profit from.\u201d Hendrix also believes that videos like Arnold\u2019s \u2018harm our entire city\u2019 by discouraging visitors and creating a \u2018climate of fear\u2019, a concerned shared by Manchester\u2019s leaders.<\/p>\n

A Manchester City Council spokesperson said: \u201cThe trend of some YouTubers – both those with large followings and would-be imitators – generating content by filming vulnerable adults such as people experiencing homelessness, and sometimes provoking situations, is a concerning one.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that many of the voluntary and community sector organisations working to support vulnerable people share this concern. While there are of course real social issues here which we and partners are working to address, such online content is not constructive and only serves to exaggerate and distort perceptions.”<\/p>\n

\"CurtisCurtis Arnold has promised to address his past in a video(Image: Reach PLC \/ DJE Media)\u2018All will be revealed at some point\u2019<\/p>\n

Arnold declined to comment on the SHPO when approached by the Manchester Evening News. He is yet to publicly address it, despite growing speculation around the matter online in recent months.<\/p>\n

In 2023, Arnold published a video showing an interaction with a Lancashire police officer, who referred to his SHPO. Arnold discussed this in a conversation with fellow YouTuber Penny Bunny, claiming: \u201cI don\u2019t really know why he said that, I have a Serious Harm Prevention Order on my house.\u201d<\/p>\n

But there is no such thing as a Serious Harm Prevention Order. In a video he posted on November 15, Arnold told followers he would publish an \u2018explanation video on certain things that have been brought up from the past\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re gonna explain about it,” Arnold said. “We\u2019re gonna keep it fairly general, but we all know – we all know how corrupt some of the systems can be.”<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cAll will be revealed at some point, very soon, and there will be no – no sort of ifs or buts, or oh this or oh that. There\u2019s always two sides to a story.\u201d The video is yet to surface.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"INVESTIGATION: He has built a huge online following by filming the \u201cgood, bad and ugly\u201d of Britain\u2019s streets…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":637718,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,393,600,4884,6332,2465,8086,196570,16429,11653,16,15,185318,1737],"class_list":{"0":"post-637717","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-facebook","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-homelessness","13":"tag-manchester","14":"tag-manchester-city-centre","15":"tag-nicola-bulley","16":"tag-piccadilly-gardens","17":"tag-premium","18":"tag-uk","19":"tag-united-kingdom","20":"tag-unmissable","21":"tag-youtube"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115733930261520078","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/637717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=637717"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/637717\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/637718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=637717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=637717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=637717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}