Hartlepool dad snared by two paedophile hunter groups in online sex chat with 'girls aged 13 and 14'

Terry Hoyland, who called himself a "paedophile" during one of the illegal conversations, thought he was chatting to two children aged 13 and 14.

But Newcastle Crown Court heard the 30-year-old had been duped by fake profiles set up by Guardians of the North and Dark Justice.

The groups, who pose as children online to expose adults looking for illegal contact, tracked Hoyland down and filmed their confrontation.

In the video Hoyland says: "I do not know where my life is going to go to next."

A member of one of the groups replied: "You are going to get arrested. You will be taken to the police station."

Prosecutor Alec Burns told the court both conversations took place in January 2019.

During the first, with a profile of a 13-year-old girl called 'Chloe', which had been set up by Guardians of the North, Hoyland sent a naked picture of himself in the bath and asked for indecent images in return.

Hoyland said the girl could visit his home, where they could "kiss, cuddle, play fight and feel her under her clothes".

He discussed engaging in intimate acts and told her a man asking a 13-year-old girl for sex is a "paedophile" and so he was going to watch a film rather than continue the conversation.

During a separate conversation, with a girl called Amy, which had been set up by Dark Justice, Hoyland sent the same naked picture of himself, asked about her sexual experience and what stage of puberty she had reached.

Mr Burns added: "He was traced and approached by both groups on February 2 last year and when confronted he said he said 'I was stupid, I got carried away with the chat'."

Hoyland, of Brookes Crescent, Hartlepool, admitted two charges of attempting to communicate with a child for sexual gratification.

Mr Recorder Jonathan Sandiford QC sentenced him to a community order for three years with programme requirements.

Hoyland must abide by a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offenders register for five years.

The judge told him: "You described yourself as a paedophile and that is certainly how you were behaving.

"No harm was done although harm was intended.

"Teenage girls are vulneralbe to people such as you who will try and prey upon them."

The judge added: "Rehabilitation is the best way to protect young girls in future from harm from you."

Jessica Slaughter, defending, said Hoyland has never been in trouble before and lives with his mother who he assists with household tasks.

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