'Hero to villain': Fulstow sailor confronted by vigilante paedophile hunters

Royal Navy rating Kyle Catmull broke down in tears on a video recorded by the group called 'TRAP' in Fareham, Portsmouth.

The 22-year-old, who was based at HMS Collingwood after completing his 10-week training in HMS Rayleigh, Plymouth, was told by one of the group: 'You went from hero to villain in minutes.'

Catmull thought he was meeting a 15-year-old girl. But instead he ended up being filmed sitting on the ground with his head in his hands as the paedophile hunters who snared him quizzed him on why he swapped messages with the fake youngster.

This week, Catmull appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court facing a charge of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

He admitted the charge and will be sentenced on March 14.

Catmull, formerly of East Farm Lane, Fulstow, Louth, and care of HMS Collingwood in Fareham, must now sign the sex offenders' register until further order.

The video reveals an exchange with Catmull, who had been in the navy for 14 weeks before the sting on July 24, and the vigilante group.

TRAP: 'Are you in the navy?'

Catmull: 'Yes.'

TRAP: 'Should you not know better?'

Catmull: 'Yes.'

TRAP: 'As a representative of our country fighting, you would be a hero fighting for our country and doing what you do, yes?'

Catmull: 'Yes.'

TRAP: 'You've now villainised yourself by doing it.'

A Royal Navy spokeswoman said: ‘As legal proceedings are ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment.’