Moment ‘pathetic’ Facebook pervert meets ’13-year-old-girl’ but is busted by Dark Justice vigilantes
Steven McCarthy pleaded guilty but the judge ruled against giving the perv a prison sentence
A SICK perv tricked into thinking he was inviting a 13-year-old girl to stay the night has been SPARED jail - despite being caught red-handed by vigilantes.
The moment Steven McCarthy was confronted at a bus stop by members of Dark Justice was filmed by the group who pose as young teens to help bring paedophiles to justice.
He thought he was speaking to a teenage girl when he sent messages asking if she wanted to have sex with him and had arranged to meet at a bus station in Alnwick, Northumberland.
This week the 46-year-old pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming at Newcastle Crown Court and was given an eight month jail sentence, suspended for two years.
Judge Roberts Adams told the court the intensive requirements of the orders, which are aimed at dealing with his “warped” desires, would better serve the public than a prison sentence.
He added that “it is not known what would have happened” if he had met up with a real 13-year-old girl.
“A false Facebook profile for a fictional 13-year-old was created," he continued.
“In July this year the defendant made a friend request to her which was accepted and over the following weeks his messages became more persistent.”
In conversations with the 'girl' during August, McCarthy called her babe and said when she asked what he wanted, he said “sex if you want”.
Mr Fish said: “What happened is she said ‘Does my age not put you off, being 13?’. His response was ‘Not at all babe’.
“It couldn’t be clearer he knew he was speaking to someone he thought was 13.”
McCarthy asked her to meet him for a drink and told the 'girl' she could stay the night at his house before asking for her phone number.
Mr Fish said: “He provided her with instructions as to how to get to Alnwick.
“Before the meeting there was a further discussion where she asked ‘Will you want to do kissing and stuff?” and he replied ‘If you want’.”
The fictional girl then asked: “Me being 13 not put you off?”, to which McCarthy said: “No.”
Mr Fish said: “When he was confronted about the alcohol he said it was for him and he was only planning on meeting her.
“When arrested he made this statement: ‘Nothing was going to happen, I told her she could sleep in my bed and I would sleep on the sofa.
“He disputed having any sexual intention towards her.
“There were some images exchanged between them, however those images were fully clothed.”
Judge Robert Adams told McCarthy: “Of course there was no child, but you believed at the time you were communicating with a 13-year-old.
“It was made very clear to you the person you thought you were communicating with was 13.
“You were even asked whether the age of the person put you off and you said ‘not at all’.”
McCarthy, of Upper Howick Street, Alnwick, must also sign the Sex Offenders Register and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
Richard Bloomfield, defending, said McCarthy, who has never been in trouble before, is not a sexual predator and is a “rather pathetic individual” who only intended to kiss the girl.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368