A FIFTH pervert snared by paedophile hunters Dark Justice is behind bars after trying to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl for sex.

Divorced dad Barry Scott, 50, bought vodka and condoms after arranging to meet teenager “Donna” on the Millennium Bridge in Newcastle in November.

But when he got there he was confronted by two online vigilantes, who took his picture and reported him to police.

Judge Robin Mairs jailed Scott for 12 months at Newcastle Crown Court today (Friday, July 31) after the defendant admitted attempting to meet a girl under 16 following sexual grooming.

Andrew Walker, prosecuting, explained how Dark Justice set up profiles on dating websites, pretending to be underage girls, then wait for men to make contact.

Scott, from Warwick Road, Wallsend, got in touch with the Donna profile, which was advertised as being a woman aged 19, but continued to communicate despite being told "she" was really only 14, the court heard.

Messages from Scott became more sexual and before the meeting he told Donna to "wear something sexy".

He also asked if she was on the pill, and he offered to get vodka and condoms for when they went back to his house.

Five days after Dark Justice confronted him on the bridge, Northumbria Police arrested him.

Mr Walker said: "He accepted that he had arranged to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old having discussed full sexual intercourse."

Peter Schofield, defending, said Scott lived an isolated life and his initial intention had been to meet adult women for dates. "It is the greatest of pities he did not have the good sense to cease from having any further involvement in this matter," he said.

Mr Schofield said Scott was "deeply remorseful", and said "he was so stupid for getting himself into this position and he did not know why he did it".

He was put on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

Two Dark Justice campaigners were in court to see the fifth jail sentence passed arising from their activities.

One said: "This goes to show the way we do things is accepted in a court of law.

"Justice should be served by a judge, not on Facebook and social media."