Former British Airways pilot caught by ‘paedophile hunters’ trying to meet child for sex spared jail

Losing job ‘significant punishment’, judge says

Gary Morris was found guilty of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming after a trial last month at Newcastle Crown Court (Google)

A former British Airways pilot who tried to lure a 14-year-old boy for sex has been spared jail after a judge said losing his job was a “significant punishment”.

Gary Morris, 46, met a boy named Tom on dating app Grindr and invited him to his elderly parents’ home in Sunderland.

But the teenager's profile was a fake, created by the Guardians of the North, a group that works to catch paedophiles.

The organisation tipped off police and when Morris answered the door thinking Tom had arrived, he was faced by officers who arrested him.

John Dye, defending, said: “It was moments of madness two years ago which the defendant has had time to reflect on.”

His client was found guilty of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming after a trial last month at Newcastle Crown Court

Judge Edward Bindloss said the case was aggravated because Mr Morris had claimed to be 38 and because he had discussed engaging in oral sex with the decoy.

But he handed Morris a suspended a 12-month jail sentence for a year after telling him: “You have been suspended as a British Airways pilot, which is a prestigious job and a job with a substantial income. In my judgment, that, to some extent, is a substantial punishment to you.”

The judge said Morris was also of “positive good character”, hard-working and a kind and caring friend.

He must carry out rehabilitation requirements and will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

British Airways confirmed Morris no longer worked for the airline and has not flown since his arrest in 2016.

Additional reporting by Press Association