A 68-year-old man from London, Timothy Cadwallader, has avoided jail time after admitting to engaging in online sexual activity with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl.

Cadwallader appeared in court where he pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child. The court heard that Cadwallader had contacted an online profile he believed belonged to a young girl, using the moniker "naughty daddy." He repeatedly made explicit sexual propositions to the supposed child.

Despite having a previous conviction from 2003 for domestic violence involving threats with a dangerous weapon, Cadwallader's target was actually an adult member of a paedophile hunting team.

Scorpion Hunters, working on behalf of Protecting All Little Souls (PALS), confronted Cadwallader at his home and questioned him about his online activity. The police were called and Cadwallader was subsequently arrested.

The judge sentenced him to a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. Cadwallader was also placed under a supervision order and subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order. He was further mandated to register as a sex offender for five years.