Man caught asking '14-year-old girl' if she could 'get naked' by vigilante group jailed

Dark Justice confronted the man after creating a fake social media account for a young girl

A man has been jailed for eight months after a vigilante group tricked him into believing he was meeting a 14-year-old 'schoolgirl'.

Ryan Kelly, 22, from Newcastle, had arranged to meet a young girl he believed was called 'Amy' but was really internet vigilantes Dark Justice.

Kelly pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court heard how conversation between the two quickly turned sexual, despite the fact "she immediately told him she was a 14-year-old schoolgirl," said the prosecuting Alec Burns.

Kelly had messaged 'Amy' asking for a nude picture of herself and explaining what he planned to do to her.

Kelly stated that he had planned to take her back to his house while his partner was away before being confronted by Dark Justice.

Sentencing Kelly to eight months in jail and ten years on the Sex Offenders' Register, Recorder William Lowe QC told the court "I'm satisfied that, had you had the opportunity, this meeting would have gone ahead and you would have carried out your promise."

Julie Clemitson, who was defending Kelly, said that the incident was a one-off and the sexual discussion "just fantasy."

"He's inherently decent and hardworking," she said.

"This is a blip in the otherwise unremarkable young man's life."