A council worker who helped vulnerable children in care has admitted arranging to have sex with a 15-year-old boy.

Former primary school teacher James Hope, of Preston Grove, Faversham, was caught on video waiting to meet the teenager, but was instead confronted by paedophile hunters who had set him up.

At the time, the 38-year-old was an assistant head teacher at Kent County Council’s Virtual School - a service helping educate children in care and those who had left school early.

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He had previously worked as a teacher at St Mary's primary school in Faversham.

Footage posted on Facebook in September by vigilante group The Hunted One showed the moment Hope was confronted at the town's railway station.

In the footage – which contains language unsuitable to publish – men from the group approach Hope, asking him: “What are you doing here? Is that a photograph of you? You work with children anyway don’t you? Do you think it’s OK to come and meet a child?”

Hope replies: “He’s 16 isn’t he?”

In another video, Hope is seen being led away by police officers.

At Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Friday, he admitted attempting to meet a boy aged under 16 for penetrative sexual activity.

He has been released on bail and will be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court at a later date.

Kent County Council says Hope joined the Virtual School last January but was immediately suspended following his arrest and has since been dismissed.