Steven McCarthy, 46, thought he was speaking to a teenage girl when he sent messages asking if the supposed child wanted to have sex with him.

But when he arrived at the bus station in Alnwick, Northumberland, he discovered he had been talking to Newcastle-based vigilante group Dark Justice.

McCarthy pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming at Newcastle Crown Court and was given an eight month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

“A false Facebook profile for a fictional 13-year-old was created,” he continued.

“In July this year the defendant made a friend request to her which was accepted and over the following weeks his messages became more persistent.”

During a conversation in August, McCarthy referred to the fictional girl as “babe” and when she asked what he wanted, he said “sex if you want”.

Mr Fish said: “What happened is she said ‘Does my age not put you of