Pervert collapsed on camera when he turned up to meet schoolgirl - and was confronted by Dark Justice vigilantes

David Hanson passed out when he realised that the 14-year-old girl he believed he had been communicating with was in fact online paedophile hunters Dark Justice.

The 45-year-old had been exchanging explicit messages in the days before the meeting in July last year.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court how Hanson contacted the fake profile of an 18-year-old girl called Amanda set up by Dark Justice on dating website Badoo.

On July 17 last year Dark Justice got a notification that Amanda had received a message from Hanson, who had boasted about having a job as a football referee and said that killer Raoul Moat was his "hero".

Miss Richardson told the court how the vigilante group had replied as Amanda and told Hanson she had lied about her age and was 14-years-old.

Hanson exchanged mobile numbers with Amanda so they could communicate on What's App, and between 18-21 July last year, there were 750 messages passed between them.

They made arrangements to meet on July 21 at the Centre for Life in Newcastle before going back to Amanda's house where Hanson would stay overnight as her parents were away.

They spoke of having a cuddle and touching one and other and Hanson told Amanda she "would be happy by the end of the night."

Ms Richardson told the court: "They (Dark Justice) spotted the defendant and contacted the police.

"Both told him they were from Dark Justice, the defendant said: 'I wasn't going to have sex with her'.

"He said he felt sick and looked as if he was going to faint. He asked to join Dark Justice as he agreed with what they were doing.

"He repeatedly said he was sorry, he had been stupid."

He was carrying a rucksack which contained his tooth brush and tooth paste as well as condoms.

Hanson, of Normount Road, Benwell, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

The Recorder of Newcastle, Paul Sloan QC told Hanson: "You were immediately

informed that Amanda was a 14-year-old.

"She kept telling you she was only 14.

"That didn't deter you, you then exchanged mobile numbers and communicated on What's App.

"When you arrived you were confronted by Dark Justice, it was clear you were shocked when confronted."

The court heard how Hansen lost both parents within a short period of time in 2013.

Judge Sloan told him: "It seems you have lived a lonely, isolated existence

since that time.

"You have lost everything including your job and your home.

"It's clear you are ashamed."

Judge Sloan sentenced Hanson, who had to a three year community order and a sexual harm prevention order for years years.

Speaking after an earlier hearing a Dark Justice member said: "His eyes rolled back and he just went straight to the ground.

"We confronted him in the same way we do all our cases, there's no aggression or anything.

"We just revealed who we were and he passed out.

"We prepare ourselves for all sorts of outcomes at these meetings but we certainly weren't expecting that."