Shaun Pardon, 54, believed he was chatting to a 13-year-old, but it was in fact a decoy account set up by adults to catch and hunt down online child sex offenders.

He was confronted at his home by members of the group, with video footage of the encounter then posted online.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told he had begun messaging the profile in December 2023 stating “hello gorgeous” and had continued contacting it, despite being told the girl he was talking to was supposedly aged just 13.

Shaun Pardon exchanged sexualised........

© Norwich Evening News