A PERVERT was snared by a paedophile hunter group after one of their members posed as an underage girl online.

Clinton Vlahos, 25, of Bishton Road, Newport, appeared before Cardiff Crown Court and pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child.

The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Eleri Rees, adjourned sentencing until the end of next month so that both a psychiatric report and a pre-sentence report by the Probation Service could be carried out.

Claire Pickthall, who was representing Vlahos, asked that his address not be made public as he had been receiving abuse online.

Judge Rees said she would have to make a formal application and show good reason why the details couldn’t be disclosed and that the press would have the right to make their own representation.

Miss Pickthall said she would not be making a bid and so her request was refused.

The defendant had previously been on unconditional bail but as a result of his conviction, this was changed to conditional bail.

The judge said Vlahos is now prohibited from contacting any child under the age of 16.

He must now also register as a sex offender and he was told he has to fully cooperate with the Probation Service and has to live at the address given to the court.

The prosecutor in the hearing was Heath Edwards. The full details of the case were not revealed in open in court.

Judge Rees set the sentence date for Tuesday, July 31.