Jacob Smith 41

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Jacob Smith, of Whickham, engaged in sexual communication with a '14-year-old' who bizarrely turned out to be a decoy profile being run by a woman who cuts his wife's hair.

A pervert who thought he was having a sex chat with a child was actually talking to his wife's hairdresser working as an undercover paedophile hunter.

Jacob Smith made contact with a 14-year-old girl's profile on the Grindr app in September 2019 and discussed sex in "explicit" detail.

The married dad, 39, who used the moniker "4trans" said he wanted to take the child's virginity and encouraged her to truant from school.

A court heard the fake teen profile had been set up by vigilantes Guardians of the North.

He was told he was talking to a confused teen who was a girl but wanted to be a boy.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the adult behind the account had set it up and waited for contact, which Smith started with the massage "hi beautiful".

By a bizarre coincidence, the decoy who was behind the fake teen profile was Smith's wife's hairdresser, who knew the family and recognised him instantly when he sent his photograph.

Smith, of Front Street, Whickham, Gateshead, denied attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, claimed he knew who was behind the fake profile and had sent the messages for "amusement" at a time when he was not thinking straight.

But after a trial by jury, he was found guilty of the charge and has now been jailed for eight months.

Smith has to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

Recorder Alex Menary said he accepted Smith was suffering from depression as a result of stress, brought on by a promotion at work and personal problems, but said only a custodial sentence could provide sufficient punishment.

The judge said: "By a twist of fate the decoy was your wife's hairdresser.

"When you sent pictures of yourself she recognised you.

"On learning you were in London on business she contacted the police.

"You made no comment when arrested."

The court heard Smith later claimed he knew it was the hairdresser all along as he was "aware of her work" so went along as entertainment and distraction.

He also claimed he wasn't thinking straight, knew word of what he had done would get back to his wife and continued with it as a "cry for help".

The court heard Smith was "ill" at the time of the offences and has since received treatment.

He and his family had to sell their home once word of his offending got out and he now lives away from them.

Philip Gibbs, defending, said: "He was ill, to quite a considerable degree. It wasn't a short lived or trivial illness, it was a gathering storm.

"He accepts the process and the verdict of the jury because that is justice."