Internet groomer was confronted by members of a paedophile hunting group.

David Hack, 34, from Churchstow, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, after being caught in a sting operation targeting child sexual exploitation.

Hack believed he was communicating with a 15-year-old girl named Felicity on dating websites, but the profile was actually created by a paedophile hunter from Wales named Jackie Kempson. Hack had suggested meeting Felicity at a supermarket in Kingsbridge, but was intercepted by members of a Plymouth-based vigilante group, Plymouth Against Paedophiles, who had been alerted by Kempson.

Hack admitted to attempting to meet a child following grooming and attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity. He claimed he was trying to give Felicity sex education after he was caught in the sting operation.

During their online conversations, Hack had suggested Felicity touch herself sexually and sent her an image of his penis. He did not, however, suggest they engage in full sexual intercourse when they met and discussed waiting for Felicity's 16th birthday.

Hack was also ordered to attend a sex offenders programme, complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities, sign on the sex offenders' register for 10 years, and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his contact with children and allowing police to monitor his online activity.

Judge Erik Salomonsen acknowledged that Hack was the primary carer for his seriously ill grandmother and that he had been lonely and isolated, but stressed the seriousness of the offences. "In fact Felicity did not exist and had been created by a member of a paedophile hunting group. You were set up and succumbed to what you saw online," Judge Salomonsen stated.

The defence argued that Hack initially believed Felicity was 30 years old due to her profile name but acknowledged he continued the conversations after she revealed her true age. They also stated that he had suggested waiting until Felicity turned 16 before engaging in sexual activity and did not intend to engage in any sexual activity at their planned meeting.