A MAN who attempted to meet up with a 14-year-old girl after sending graphic messages and porn has been spared jail.

Grant Kelly was ambushed by vigilante group ‘Geordie Chasers’ at Darlington railway station last February after one of their members posed as a teenager online.

Teesside Crown Court heard the 20-year-old contacted the fake account, said he wanted to have “rough sex” with the girl, sent her a pornographic video and arranged to meet up for sex.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said a woman “posed as a 14-year-old girl called ‘Katie’ and she was contacted by the defendant. He asked her how old she was, she said she was 14, he said he was 19.

“The conversation turned sexual almost immediately. He asked what she wanted in a boyfriend, asked if she used WhatsApp and if he could have her mobile number. It moved onto WhatsApp on February 7th.

“He asked if they were alone in a room if they would have sex and if they did, would she use a condom. He then asked if she had ever watched porn and send her a video link. He said she would have to watch it so she knew what to do. He said he wanted rough sex but as it was her first time he said he wouldn’t do that to her.”

The court heard Kelly arrived at Darlington train station on February 17 to meet up with the fictitious teenager - but was instead ambushed by police officers and several members of the vigilante group who target potential child sex abusers.

Ms Masters added Kelly, who was arrested and gave no comment in his police interview, said the pair could have “sex everywhere in his flat” but he could not wear a condom because he is allergic to latex.

But Annelise Haugstad, defending, said he has suffered with mental health challenges for several years, has a reading age of a nine-year-old, has mild learning difficulties and is awaiting to be diagnosed with autism.

She added Kelly, who was 19 at the time of the offence, will be “very vulnerable in a custodial setting.”

Judge Peter Armstrong agreed Kelly’s mitigating circumstances including his mental health and lack of maturity “were considerable” and he was spared jail despite “the offence crossing the custodial threshold”.

Addressing Kelly, he said: “You thought you were talking to a 14-year-old girl with the intention of chatting to her and it quickly became sexual. You thought there was a sexual interest on her part towards you. I have no doubt you got excited about that.

“You planned a meeting with the intention of having sex with a 14-year-old. For a 19-year-old that seriously would have been wrong. But you could not have been considered a mature 19-year-old.

“When you arrived at the railway station you must have had quite a shock to find yourself detained by persons who have this interest in catching people who wish to engage in sex with children.

“The offence you committed certainly crosses the custodial threshold. Anyone who attempts to meet a 14-year-old for sex commits a serious offence that merits custody.

“But the mitigating circumstances are considerable. You have no relevant convictions, there is a lack of maturity and you have a mental disorders.”

Wearing a blue T-shirt and grey hoody, Kelly remained expressionless throughout the hearing.

He pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming but denied arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Kelly, of Meteor Road, Westcliffe-On-Sea, Essex, was handed a community order, a five year sexual harm prevention order restricting his online freedom and was ordered to take part in a one-to-one rehabilitation programme.