David Hanson, 45, from Benwell, Newcastle, passed out when he realised that the girl he believed he had been communicating with was in fact online paedophile hunters Dark Justice.
Hanson - who has since lost his job and his home - had been exchanging explicit messages in the days before the meeting, which he attended with a rucksack containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and condoms.
Newcastle Crown Court was told by prosecutor Anne Richardson how Hanson contacted the fake profile of an 18-year-old girl called Amanda set up by Dark Justice on dating website Badoo.
On July 17 last year Dark Justice got a notification that Amanda had received a message from Hanson, who had boasted about having a job as a football referee and said that killer Raoul Moat was his ‘hero’.
Miss Richardson said how the vigilante group had replied as Amanda and told Hanson she had lied about her age and was 14 years old.
Hanson exchanged mobile numbers with Amanda so they could communicate on What's App, and between July 18 to 21, there were 750 messages passed between them.
They made arrangements to meet on July 21 at the Centre for Life in Newcastle before going back to Amanda's house where Hanson would stay overnight as her parents were away.
They spoke of having a cuddle and touching one another and Hanson told Amanda she ‘would be happy by the end of the night’.
Miss Richardson told the court: ‘They (Dark Justice) spotted the defendant and contacted the police. Both told him they were from Dark Justice. The defendant said: “I wasn't going to have sex with her”.
‘He said he felt sick and looked as if he was going to faint. He asked to join Dark Justice as he agreed with what they were doing. He repeatedly said he was sorry, he had been stupid.’
Hanson, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
Grooming: The court heard how Hansen lost both parents within a short period of time in 2013
The Recorder of Newcastle, Paul Sloan QC told Hanson: ‘You were immediately informed that Amanda was a 14-year-old. She kept telling you she was only 14.
‘That didn't deter you, you then exchanged mobile numbers and communicated on What's App. When you arrived you were confronted by Dark Justice, it was clear you were shocked when confronted.’
The court heard how Hansen lost both parents within a short period of time in 2013.
Judge Sloan told him: ‘It seems you have lived a lonely, isolated existence since that time. You have lost everything including your job and your home. It's clear you are ashamed.’
Judge Sloan sentenced Hanson to a three-year community order and he was also given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.
Speaking after an earlier hearing, a Dark Justice member said: ‘His eyes rolled back and he just went straight to the ground.
‘We confronted him in the same way we do all our cases, there's no aggression or anything.
‘We just revealed who we were and he passed out. We prepare ourselves for all sorts of outcomes at these meetings but we certainly weren't expecting that.’
But an NSPCC spokesman said: ‘Whilst we understand there are groups who want to stop offenders committing these vile acts, tracking down sex offenders must be left to the proper authorities.
We prepare ourselves for all sorts of outcomes at these meetings but we certainly weren't expecting that
Dark Justice member
‘Undertaking these vigilante-style operations could unintentionally result in people getting hurt, drive offenders underground or jeopardise an on-going police investigation; putting children at greater risk.
‘We know that the scale of online grooming is huge and the problem will continue to grow unless police are equipped to tackle this crime.
‘We have said time and time again that ISPs (internet service providers) and social media companies need to take more responsibility to ensure young people cannot be targeted by potential offenders and have ways of reporting abuse easily.’
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