A school canteen worker held after a “paedophile hunter” sting has pleaded guilty to grooming a child under 16.

Nicholas Baines of Thrifts Mead, Theydon Bois, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court this morning (June 17) after his arrest at Westfield shopping centre in Stratford on May 19.

Baines, 41, worked for Chartwells catering in the canteen at St John Fisher Catholic primary school, Loughton.

He was held by police after members of online group Internet Interceptors met him at the Stratford shopping centre.

The group describes itself as “a dedicated team of parents hunting paedophiles and sexual predators across the UK keeping our communities safe”.

They alleged he was attempting to meet with a 13-year-old girl after believing he had talked to her online, hoping to have sex with her in her home.

However, when the group met him they revealed he had been speaking to a grown woman.

In a video posted on the Internet Interceptor’s Facebook page, members claim Baines was repeatedly reminded of the age of the girl he was supposedly speaking to.

A woman read from a log of messages allegedly sent by Baines, such as “Would you like to touch each other, cuddle, kiss, run around the house naked?”

They claimed he asked if she wanted to have sex and “play a kissing game”.

The group also claimed he said: “You ok with my age, you’re not the police or anything like that are you?”

St John Fisher school said he was immediately suspended the day after his arrest, and that all parents and local authorities had been informed.

Head teacher Bozena Laraway previously said: “The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is of paramount importance and the school has robust safeguarding procedures in place.”

Baines has been released on bail ahead of sentencing on July 15.