Repeat sex offender caught in a sting by a paedophile hunter.

Man Jailed for Child Sex Offences After Paedophile Hunter Sting

Robert Babey, 68, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for child sex offences after being caught in a sting operation by a paedophile hunter.

Babey was arrested in July following a vigilante operation filmed by BBC Inside Out South. He admitted attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and multiple breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Southampton Crown Court heard that Babey was found in possession of sex toys when he arrived to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old boy. This was in fact paedophile hunter Stephen Dure, who had posed as a boy online while communicating with Babey, a former businessman.

The encounter was filmed as part of a BBC Inside Out South documentary about Mr Dure's activities. In the programme, the National Police Chiefs' Council criticised vigilante activity for potentially compromising police operations.

In sentencing, Judge Gary Burrell QC said that Babey, of Grantham Road, Eastleigh, was "at high risk of serious harm to children".

"You may well have been publically humiliated. You deserve to be. It was an appalling thing to do," the judge added.

Babey had previously been convicted in 1990 for indecent assault. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, of which he was ordered to serve two-thirds before being released on licence.

He was also handed a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.