Pervert tried to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex.

A 43-year-old man was caught by a vigilante paedophile hunting group after attempting to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex in a graveyard.

Paul Austin-Roberts, from Dartford, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on May 12 after pleading guilty to grooming and attempting to cause a child to watch sexual acts.

Austin-Roberts had engaged in sexually explicit conversations with what he believed to be a 14-year-old boy, arranging to meet at Falconwood Cemetery on July 24, 2022.

However, he was met by members of the vigilante group "The Hunted One," who had been posing as the boy.

According to a member of the group, Austin-Roberts became "very aggressive and determined to get away from the scene" when confronted.

Austin-Roberts originally pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty. He also admitted to attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and intending to pervert the course of justice.

Despite the seriousness of the offenses, Austin-Roberts was spared prison and given a 22-month sentence suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours on the sex offender's program and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Police have expressed concern over the use of vigilantism, citing an incident at Bluewater where two passersby became involved in a fight with a suspected paedophile during a "The Hunted One" sting operation.

"The Hunted One" has since stopped streaming its sting operations and taken its website offline, but remains active on social media.