Pervert snared by female paedophile hunters after he arranged to meet ’11-year-old girl’ for sex is jailed

A SEXUAL predator who was snared by vigilante paedophile hunters after they posed as a young girl online has been jailed.

Nathan Watson, 43, tried to lure the girl - who he called "baby" and believed was 11 years old - with online messages on Waplog and Whatsapp, a photo of his penis and promises of sex.

But the girl,"Jess", turned out to be a decoy and Watson was spooked, failing. pick her up from Bristol Temple Meads train station as promised.

The court heard Watson thought "something was not right" about the arrangement - but when he didn't show, the two paedophile hunters - who are both mothers - went to his sheltered accommodation to confront him.

During the confrontation, Watson told the pair he is "a good person".

Watson pleaded guilty to attempting to sexually communicate with a child between July 15 and August 9 - and was jailed for 14 months at Bristol Crown Court today.

Prosecuting Julian Howells claimed the vigilante hunters don't make initial contact, but within three messages will reveal their age.

He said: "They make clear the age, in this case it was 11, and then ask the individual if they want to carry on chatting.

"The initial contact between [the hunter] and this defendant started on July 15. He contacted the profile of Jess, saying hi gorgeous."

He added: "He was interviewed on August 9, he could not remember if she said she was 11. He accepted sending a picture of his penis.

"He accepted discussing sexual matters, he said he did not have a sexual attraction to children. The chat log does make reference to the girl being 11."

Defending Edward Hetherington claimed Watson had a "perfectly normal" relationship history, including been married.

He said: "Mr Watson admitted wrongdoing to the police and the lady who confronted him.

"He had made the arrangement but it was something he was nervous about because of the nature of what he had done. And it did seem to him that something might be up.

"These are relatively isolated incidents in the course of this man's life. When he is searched online that [copies of chat log and video] is going to be his single biggest online footprint. It will go towards someway to punish him."

The court heard Watson's phone and laptop were seized by police, and no other conversations with children were found.

Mr Hetherington also said Watson lost his job after a hotel went bust and he helped rehome asylum seekers staying at the same charity house as him.

A video filmed by the vigilante group captures the moment hunters confronted the homeless pervert at his accommodation.

In the clip, Watson agrees to go outside to discuss the photos and messages he sent the 'girl' - who he claims he thought was "quite young - 16 or 17".

Watson, from Bristol, tries to convince the women he is a good person and was planning to do "charity work" in Calais in the coming days.

He adds: "I'm a good person believe it or not. I understand what you're looking at.

"Sometimes I don't realise the age of people of people online. I should be a bit more savvy."

The footage filmed at the hostel where Watson worked and lived was passed on to the police, who arrested him.

The charity which provided his home and work kicked Watson out following the bust.

Sentencing Watson, Judge Martin Picton said: "I have read the chat logs in this case and it's obvious that you believed yourself to be communicating with a child, and that the arrangement that was made was to meet for penetrative sexual behaviour.

"You didn't turn up on the day, heard an explanation about that. Had this amounted to a section 15 offence then the starting point would have been four years."

Speaking after hearing, the Internet Interceptors founder, who is from London, said: "Fourteen months? Is that worth a child's soul.

"Since November this is my seventh conviction. He will get a normal life when he comes out. What would happen to a child if this was an 11-year-old, she would have lost her soul."

Watson was sentenced to 14 months behind bars and will serve seven on licence. He was also subject to a sexual harm prevention order which will last for 10 years.

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