A FORMER company director caught trying to have sex with a teenager by a vigilante paedophile hunter is facing seven years behind bars.

Robert Babey thought he was messaging a 14 year old boy on dating app Grindr - but when he went to meet him Babey was confronted by Stephen Dure - the man behind Southampton-based group TRAP.

A video of Babey, 68, was captured by Mr Dure and when arrested by police, the 68 year old was found in possession of sex toys.

Prosecuting, Tom Wilkins told Southampton Crown Court that Babey used the handle 'Dad4Lad' whilst on the app and received messages from someone who told him they were 14.

Babey sent an indecent image of himself and arranged to meet him before his encounter with Mr Dure.

The footage has been widely shared across the country.

However, Andrew Houston, mitigating, criticised organisations such as the BBC for publishing the footage of the moment when Babey was caught.

He told the court: "He has been humiliated with the video being published.

"His family have been humiliated. In another instance a BBC cameraman was going with Mr Dure name to the encounter and arrest.

"He has been shown on primetime television on the BBC and that has shamed him."

Mr Houston continued: "There have been two further instances since Mr Dure arrests in these stings. One has recently committed suicide and the other who was out on a Sunday afternoon shopping in ASDA has seen a delay in his interview as a protective precaution to him."

He added: "This so-called paedophile hunter is using a method of entrapment not supported by the police but still used as evidence in court.

"It has been condemned in local media by important figures with the police force."

The court heard that Babey had two previous convictions for having indecent assault on children under the age of 16, including in 2009 when he paid a 15 year old £50 to perform a sex act on him.

A pre-sentence report on Babey found that he viewed "sexual activity with a minor as ok".

It also added that Babey was a serious threat to children.

In sentencing, Judge Gary Burrell QC said that due to previous convictions and breaching of a sexual harm prevention order, Babey would be given an extended sentence.

He added: "You may feel as thought you have been publicly humiliated. You deserve to be.

"This was an appalling thing to do."

Babey, of Graham Road, Eastleigh, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.