Steven Knox, a paedophile barber, arrived to meet what he believed to be a teenage lad for sexual purposes and was discovered to possess a reprehensible collection of obscene photographs of children on his phone.
Steven Knox was under the impression that he was conversing with a 15-year-old named Adam on the gay dating app Grindr; however, it was a ruse orchestrated by paedophile hunters.
Upon arriving at a bar car park in South Shields, 45-year-old Steven Knox anticipated meeting a youngster but was instead met by members of Dark Justice and Guardians of the North.
He was apprehended, and upon examination of his mobile phone, law enforcement discovered recordings and images of child exploitation, as shown before Newcastle Crown Court.
Steven Knox, of Lord Street, South Shields, was jailed after he admitted attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and possessing indecent images.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.