Moment 'paedophile' snared attempting to meet '14-year-old girl'

This is the moment a man who sent explicit pictures to who he thought was a 14-year-old girl was snared by paedophile hunters, as he is spared prison.



Craig Gilbert thought he was chatting to a teenager called 'Alana' on WhatsApp but he had actually been talking to a member of Justice for Kids, posing as a child.



The 28-year-old then arranged to meet 'Alana' in the car park of Asda in Stanley, County Durham, where Gilbert was greeted by members of Geordie Chasers - another paedophile hunter group, who had been tipped off by the Leeds-based organisation.



Gilbert initially denied chatting to the girl when he was confronted on camera by the group, with the footage showing him being cuffed and led away by police.



He later pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child following grooming.



Durham Crown Court heard Gilbert's first question to the girl was 'what age are you?' and after learning she was 14, they continued to communicate.



Ian West, prosecuting, said the chat quickly became sexual, with Gilbert sending a photo of his penis.



Susan Hurst, mitigating, said Gilbert was isolated and in an unhappy relationship at the time.