Stephen Short jailed after Dark Justice internet sting

A Northumberland man who thought he was meeting a 13-year-old girl but was being tricked by internet paedophile hunters has been jailed.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Stephen Short brought two bottles of wine and three Viagra tablets to the meeting at the Centre for Life in Newcastle.

However, it had actually been arranged by the group Dark Justice, who rang the police and he was arrested.

The 57-year-old from Blyth, was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

During conversations on phone apps, Short spoke about having sexual intercourse, sent explicit videos of himself and asked for photos of her, the court heard.

Nick Adlington, prosecuting, said on a number of occasions he was told that she was only 13-years-old but he said it was "fine".

"He suggested a meeting and said he would bring wine and they could watch DVDs together," he said.

After being detained, Short fully disclosed what had happened to the police and said: "I'm stupid I should not have done it."

He previously pleaded guilty to intending to meet a child under 16 following sexual grooming.

Judge Bernard Gateshill QC said there was "no mitigation in his case" and his "culpability was high".

"You did your best to arrange a meeting, you came prepared with drinks that you would have used to inebriate your victim if there had been a 13-year-old girl waiting for you.

"Fortunately no such girl was waiting for you and you were then arrested," he said.

Short was also placed on the sexual offenders register for 10 years.

Rachael Landin, defending, said he had not gone online "intending to find a child" and he had shown "immediate remorse".

Short is the fourth person to be jailed by Dark Justice, which describes itself as a group of concerned citizens.