A FATHER-of-three looking for child sex online was trapped when he was caught talking to decoy from a vigilante group.

Stephen Booth pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl and incitement of a child to engage in sexual activity over a nine-month period.

The 41-year-old Network Rail supervisor, originally from Skelton, east Cleveland, lost his job and pension, his family and home following his arrest.

Teesside Crown Court heard he is now working in a warehouse in Rotherham after moving to Maltby.

He was sentenced to a two years in prison suspended for two years and ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years.

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said that during months of contact on two websites Booth sent photographs of himself performing a sex act and he urged the girl to do the same despite her repeatedly saying that she was 14 and still at school.

Gary Wood, defending, said that Booth, who had no previous convictions, had been suffering from depression and his arrest led to his partner ending their relationship and he was forced to moved out of the area.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said an aggravating feature of the case was that he had urged her not to tell her parents about him.