A PILOT who tried to lure a 14-year-old boy to his parents' home was spared jail after a judge said losing his job was a "substantial punishment".

Gary Morris, 46, was tricked by a fake profile of a boy called Tom, created by the paedophile hunters Guardians of the North on the gay dating app Grindr.

He was found guilty of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming after a trial last month, at Newcastle Crown Court.

Morris, from Brighton, was at his parents' in Sunderland for Christmas 2016 and invited Tom to their house for sex.

The group tipped off police and, when Morris answered the door expecting Tom, he was arrested.

John Dye, mitigating, said it was 'moments of madness' which the defendant has had time to reflect on.

Judge Edward Bindloss said the case was aggravated because Morris had claimed to be 38 and discussed engaging in oral sex with the decoy. But he was said to be of "positive good character", hardworking and a kind and caring friend.

Morris was given 12-months custody, suspended for a year, and must carry out rehabilitation requirements and will be on the sex offenders register for ten years.

The judge told him: "You have been suspended as a British Airways pilot, which is a prestigious job and a job with a substantial income. In my judgment, that, to some extent, is a substantial punishment to you."