A father who tried to meet a '13-year-old girl' for sex was left 'humiliated' as paedophile hunters live streamed their confrontation.
Raymond Carpenter, 40, had arranged to meet the 'child' at Piccadilly station in Manchester.
He had previously sent the 'girl', who was in fact an adult woman using a 'decoy' account, a picture of his genitals and had sexualised chats online.
A court heard how he was left 'humiliated' as the group, named the Elusive Child Protection Unit, published a live stream on Facebook.
The video, in which Carpenter said he 'made a mistake', has since been viewed 250,000 times.
Now Carpenter, a father-of-four, has been jailed for two years. His barrister said the defendant was 'terrified' of going to jail.
"He is the lowest of the low as a sex offender," Bob Elias said of Carpenter's standing in prison.
Mr Elias claimed Carpenter's actions were all part of a 'fantasy' in his mind.
Carpenter, from Oldham, began chatting with the 'girl', known as Kimberley, asking her 'are you a good girl or naughty?'
During the conversation the 'girl' told him she was 13.
The chat became sexual and he asked whether she had seen a 'man's bits', and if she had ever 'played with herself'.
When Carpenter asked if she wanted to see 'under his boxer shorts', the girl said she was worried she might get in trouble.
He said if the girl deleted their chats then no-one else would know, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Carpenter again asked if she wanted to see his genitals, and he sent a picture.
He also sent a picture of him holding a snake, saying 'it was as big as his privates'.
Carpenter told the 'child' he wanted to have sex with her, later asking to meet up.
He said he would 'only do dirty things if she wanted to'.
He asked her to wear red knickers as he 'liked' the colour.
The decoy account passed the details of the arranged meet up to other members of the group.
About ten people confronted Carpenter at the station on July 5 last year, and the police also attended.
Mr Elias said Carpenter is remorseful and has no previous convictions for sexual offences.
"He found it exciting and fell into the trap that was prepared for him," he said.
"His world has crashed down around him.
"He was in tears this afternoon as I went through the sentencing guidelines.
"He is desperately sorry."
The barrister appealed for Carpenter to be spared jail, noting there was no real victim.
"There is no good in locking him up, only harm to him and humiliation," Mr Elias said.
"He has been thoroughly humiliated already by these paedophile hunters.
"It is an offence in his own fantasy, an offence in his mind.
"It was never going to happen."
But the judge, Recorder Michael Duck QC, said the offence was too serious.
He told Carpenter: "I accept this has wreaked havoc upon your life.
"But those who engage in this sort of behaviour have to understand the consequences.
"It is plain you believed you were conversing with a 13-year-old girl.
"It is plain from the conversations that took place what your intentions were."
Carpenter, of Oldham Road, Failsworth, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, attempting to incite a child into sexual activity, and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.
