A Northfleet pervert has been jailed after a vigilante group online made him think he was meeting a schoolgirl for sex.

Mark McKenna, 38, of High Street, was sentenced to five years after pleading guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

McKenna went to Bluewater Shopping Centre with the understanding he and the made-up child would have sex.

However, the gang dubbed The Hunted One tipped off police about McKenna’s plans and he was arrested on August 6.

Judge Philip Statman also added McKenna’s name to the sex offenders' register for life. News Shopper has previously interviewed members of The Hunted One, which claims to have exposed 25 paedophiles.

One hunter, who asked to remain anonymous, described the group as “concerned parents”, claiming they were not vigilantes.

McKenna appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today (October 21).