A SHAMED dental surgeon was caught in a police sting after attempting to meet an underage boy for sex.

The ‘boy’ was in reality a police officer and Richard Hayes-Hall, who was a dentist in Worcester, was arrested after going to meet the '14-year-old' with sex toys in his car.

Qualified dental surgeon and lecturer Hayes-Hall, aged 61, of Poolbrook Road in Malvern, appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday for sentencing.

The dental surgeon, who used to work at a practice in Worcester, had already admitted a single count of attempting to meet a boy under 16 following grooming.

Michael Conry, prosecuting, said that when Hayes-Hall learned of the boy's age, he wrote in a message: “Very nice – only 14. I would be happy to teach you a thing or two XXXX’."

The ‘boy’ said he was 'nervous' and Hayes-Hall said they could ‘just play to begin with’, the court heard.

Mr Conry said Hayes-Hall gave graphic descriptions of sexual activity but said it was ‘up to him’ (the boy) what happened.

They discussed having sex in the boy's bedroom while his mother was out.

Hayes-Hall reassured the ‘boy’, telling him: “You will be nervous, naturally. It’s your first time but don’t worry you will be fine. I won’t hurt you. Don’t worry, you won’t catch anything.”

Hayes-Hall was arrested in the Lickey Hills, Birmingham, on March 14 where he'd arranged to meet the boy.

Police found sex toys, condoms, ropes and padlocks in a bag in the footwell of the passenger side of the defendant's car.

In interview he told police he was bisexual and used digital communication to meet up with 'fit men' aged 16 to 25 using apps like Grindr and Kik Messenger.

He told police there had been a suggestion he met the ‘boy’ during half-term but had ‘bottled it because he knew it was wrong’.

The defendant had no previous convictions and had been a man of good character before this offence.

Mark Sheward, defending, said Hayes-Hall had 'struggled for some years with his sexuality'.

The former boarding school pupil and university graduate was qualified as a dental surgeon, had worked as a lecturer and was ‘highly regarded in his field’ Mr Sheward said.

He added that Hayes-Hall, a father-of-two, had been faithful to his wife but some years ago his confusion about his sexuality returned. The defendant began to use adult pornographic sites before he progressed to more extreme sites having become more desensitised and detached from what he was doing.

"He knew the way he had been behaving had been wrong. He didn't know how to stop. When he was arrested it came as a relief," said Mr Sheward.

Judge Robert Juckes QC said: "I have to bear in mind the disgust most members of the public feel about the kind of behaviour you indulged in in this particular case.

"Between January and March you were in constant contact with someone you thought was an innocent 14-year-old schoolboy, preparing to meet, grooming him for that purpose and in the end arranging the meeting and equipping yourself for the purpose.

"The public regard that offending with a highly understandable and proper degree of horror."

The judge said that a significant aspect of the punishment was that Hayes-Hall had been 'brought low' from a high place in society and 'exposed'.

Judge Juckes sentenced him to 16 months in prison suspended for two years.

Hayes-Hall, assessed as 'a medium risk', must take part in a sex offender's programme called Horizon for two years and complete 20 rehabilitation activity days.

He must also sign the sex offender's register for 10 years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, also for 10 years.