Moment pervert, 35, is caught after sending sex messages to '12-year-old girl' then claims HE was just trying to become a paedophile hunter

• Gary Horn, of Stanley, County Durham thought he was talking to a child online
• The 35-year-old was sending sexual messages to the Child Online Safety Team 
• Pervert Horn claimed that he was trying to become a paedophile hunter himself 

This is the moment a pervert is snared after sending messages to a '12-year-old' girl - then claims to the group he was just trying to become a paedophile hunter.

Gary Horn had thought he was chatting to a child on social media but he was actually having the shocking sexual exchanges with a decoy profile, set up by Child Online Safety Team.

The undercover group tracked the 35-year-old pervert down to his home address, in Stanley, County Duham, that he shares with his partner and young child, and confronted him about the sick messages. 

The online vigilante group were astonished when he tried to justify his actions by saying that he had been chatting to the girl because he was attempting to become a paedophile hunter himself.

In a video taken by the group Horn tells them: 'I want to become one of yous myself.

'That's what I was trying to do. I know there's people who do it online. I don't like it myself. But I don't know how to get in touch with people.'

The paedophile hunters are visibly shocked by his explanation, with one retorting:

'Never heard that before.'

He later adds: 'I think that is the most pathetic f***ing excuse.' Shortly later, the police turn up and Horn is arrested.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Horn asked the 'girl' to dress-up in sexy clothes and send him sleazy pictures during a series of online chats.

He was told the person in the online profile was just 12 at the start of the chat but responded by telling her 'Sorry, I thought you were older, my bad, fancy a f***?'.

The court heard when the conversation continued on WhatsApp, he asked the child to watch porn and send him photos of her wearing 'sexy clothes'.

He finally stopped contact but was later confronted by the online vigilante group in front of his partner and young child at his home address last May. 

Horn, of Stanley, in County Durham, pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate sexually with a child.

Judge Amanda Rippon sentenced him to a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

The judge told him: 'When a 12-year-old tells you she's 12, to ask for a f*** and ask her to get dressed up and watch porn, if that was a real 12-year-old girl, the damage is incalculable and often life-long.

'You thought nothing about her, only yourself and your own sexual gratification.'

Alec Burns, defending, said Horn had a problem with alcohol and had been drunk at the time but 'now realises the wider implications of the offence.'

Mr Burns added: 'He understands that and shows remorse.

'Alcohol has been a problem for a long time. He has self-referred and keeps a daily diary, so that can be checked and updated every three weeks.'

Horn was also made to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years and was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

Sam Miller, of COST, said: 'I have caught 350 people and no-on has ever given that excuse before.

'I've never heard anything like it. I knew straight away it was a load of rubbish.'