This is the moment a trainee priest was snared by paedophile hunters as he tried to meet an underage schoolboy for sex - before being jailed for a year.

James Leigh had already sent an intimate picture and boasted that he liked 'sweaty teen lads' to a Grindr profile he believed belonged to a 14-year-old virgin.

But when he turned up to meet 'the boy' at a quiet leisure centre car park after dark, the 30-year-old learner clergyman was confronted by Guardians of the North.

He arrived at the illegal liaison in a black Hyundai car where he was greeted by the undercover organisation who pose as children online to snare perverts.

Leigh, of Great Broughton, Cumbria, who muttered 'Dear God' when he was caught, had been living with a Catholic priest in Newcastle as part of his training at the time.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming and now has a ten-year sexual offences prevention order and sex offender registration requirement.

Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said that Leigh had set up a profile on gay dating site Grindr under the name 'Chris' and was quickly told his new interest was underage.

Miss Dowling said: 'He told the teen he was horny.'

The court heard Leigh was told that the teenager had no sexual experience and asked him 'what he felt comfortable doing' then discussed the possibility of sex acts.

Miss Dowling added that he sent the boy a picture of his genitals, and asked the boy if he had any pictures of his. She said: 'The defendant said he liked sweaty teen lads.'

The court heard when Leigh arranged to meet the youngster at Gateshead leisure centre car park after dark, he asked about the seclusion of the area, whether there were CCTV cameras and what the street lighting was like.

Leigh, who has never been in trouble with the law before, was confronted by the group, who had alerted the police, when he arrived at the meeting place.

A bishop had prepared a reference to his ordinarily good character, which the judge read at the sentencing hearing.

Mr Recorder Tahir Khan told Leigh: 'You were training to be a priest at the time that this offence I have to sentence you for occurred.

'You made contact with someone who did not exist in reality, using a website called Grindr.

'This came about because a group calling themselves Guardians of the North had created a fake profile of a 14-year-old boy with the express intention of catching people who might be tempted to seek out sexual activity with under age boys.

'You sent a photo of yourself and it is clear from the communication that followed that you were clearly aware that the person you were engaging with was purporting to be a 14-year-old boy.

'Ultimately, the interaction resulted in an arrangement for you and this so-called 14-year-old boy to meet.

'There was some discussion about the purpose of the meeting and, if there was any doubts as to what that was, you discussed the possibility that you might engage in (a sex act).

'There was talk about where the meeting would take place. You were clearly keen to meet what you thought was a 14-year-old boy for the purposes of sexual activity which as an intelligent man, you knew would be unlawful.'

The judge told Leigh he had considered the testimonial from the bishop and medical records which prove he has sought help through psychotherapy.

But he added: 'This was a serious offence in which your intention was to meet a 14-year-old boy and to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

'In my judgement, the only sentence that can be properly imposed is one of immediate custody.'

Jonathan Cousins, defending, said Leigh has been candid with the authorities and the church since his arrest and will comply with any future restrictions he faces.

Speaking after the court case, he said: 'We had no idea he was a trainee priest before today.

'I am over the moon that we caught him before he entered the priesthood and had the opportunity to abuse a real child.'