A GROUP of 'paedophile hunters' who confronted a Barrow man say he is a 'danger to children'.

Darren Rybak was caught in a sting by an online child protection group and confronted when trying to meet what he thought was a teenage girl.

The group, Elusive Child Protection Unit, were behind an account posing as a 13-year-old girl and filmed themselves confronting the 50-year-old outside Barrow's Railway Station. 

Rybak has since pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. 

Following his conviction, a spokesperson for the group said: "Darren Rybak is a very manipulative man who is a danger to children and we hope the justice system deals with him according."

In the video posted on social media, Rybak is confronted by members of the group outside the railway station, who claim he has arrived there to meet a girl who has travelled more than two hours from Manchester.

Rybak tells the group he was going to take the 'girl' back to his home to 'watch movies'.

He also admits sending explicit images of himself to the decoy account.

Rybak also tells the group he would class himself as a 'paedophile'.

The dating site account he had communicated with was operated by a member of the group. 

Rybak, of Barrow's Nelson Street, is due to be sentenced for the offences at Preston Crown Court on August 9.

Until then he will be subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act.

Police in Cumbria have made it clear they do not condone the methods of 'paedophile hunter' groups.

A spokesman said: "Cumbria Constabulary will act appropriately on any information which is reported.

"However, the Constabulary’s position on so-called paedophile hunter groups reflects the position of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, in that we understand the desire to protect children but any member of the public who has information about child sexual abuse, online or otherwise, should contact police so it can be investigated and bring offenders to justice."