AN ONLINE paedophile hunters group helped snare a teacher from the Isle of Wight, who had bombarded a 'decoy', he believed was a real teenage girl, with sexually explicit photos of himself.

James Grant, of Bridgestock Terrace, Ryde, appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court to learn his fate after he admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child, aged 13 to 15, to watch sexual activity.

The 45-year-old made initial contact with who he believed was a 14-year-old called Georgia — a decoy profile created by the activist group in August last year.

Grant asked to exchange photos via an online chat service, giving his true age, but stating he worked at a school as a cleaner, rather than his true profession, a teacher, said Jane Kelly, prosecuting.

Communication was on a daily basis, which turned sexual, with Grant sending naked photos of himself — switching to WhatsApp in early December, seeking video calls for explicit chat and, in one instance, to perform a sex act on himself.

On December 30, group members travelled to the Island and found him — capturing him on video admitting his criminal behaviour.

In all, Grant sent 108 images — 44 of which showed him naked and 43 explicit in nature.

Grant, with no previous convictions, made full admissions to the police.

"No actual child was involved, but he was unaware he was not in contact with a 14-year-old girl, but rather, a decoy," said Miss Kelly.

"It was by luck, rather than judgement, a real child was not damaged."

For Grant, Jason Halsey said it had been "a difficult admission" for his client, in light of the position he held — suffering mental health problems, loneliness and lacking self-worth during his offending. 

Grant's communications were of fantasy, for which he has shown remorse, Mr Halsey added.

Judge Richard Shepherd handed Grant an 18-month jail term, suspended for two years, with 55 rehabilitation sessions and £425 costs.

Grant was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years, prohibiting him from working with anyone aged 16 years and under, and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for the same period.