An 18-year-old man, Luke Porter, has been sentenced for attempting to communicate with a child to engage in sexual activity, claiming he was unaware of the illegality of his actions.

Porter traveled to Darlington railway station to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl named Megan, with whom he had been exchanging messages on WhatsApp.

However, "Megan" was actually a member of the vigilante group Newcastle Hunters, who confronted Porter at the station and recorded the encounter. Porter was subsequently arrested by police.

During the confrontation, Porter expressed remorse and stated that he didn't know why he had attempted to meet the "girl". He also initially claimed ignorance of the law, suggesting he believed his actions were merely "frowned upon".

Teesside Crown Court heard that Porter, who had only turned 18 weeks before the incident, admitted to the charges. The court acknowledged that while no actual child was involved, Porter believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old, making his actions an offense.

Porter was sentenced to nine months in a young offenders' institute, suspended for two years, and is now subject to a ten-year sexual harm prevention order. He was also ordered to attend 25 rehabilitation requirement days.