A GREAT-grandad from Rossett claimed to have been hunting paedophiles after he sent indecent images and engaged in "sick" conversations online, a court heard.

Michael Mason, of Strathalyn in Burton, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday for sentencing.

The 72-year-old had previously admitted four offences; including two counts of distributing indecent images of children, possession of extreme pornography and possession of a prohibited image of a child.

James Coutts, prosecuting, told the court the distribution offences took place in 2019, and came to light following a referral by a social networking site making a referral to police over suspicious activity in August.

A chat between two users contained a "highly sexualised focus" on child abuse, with one user - later identified to have been Mason - expressing interest in acts of sexual abuse.

Through the account, Mason sent an indecent image of a young girl on the chat.

Once the account was traced to his home IP address, police attended and conducted a search warrant, following which he was arrested.

In conversations with police, he "denied being a pervert," telling officers he had been trying to "catch paedophiles" online.

He admitted having used the account identified in the chat under another name, and said he'd done it for sexual gratification and curiosity.

It was discovered he'd had other conversations, on one occasion portraying himself as a 15-year-old girl and engaging in sexualised conversation.

During the course of that conversation, he claimed to have a nine-year-old sister and discussed meeting the other user to go to "paedophile parties."

Mason also sent an indecent image to the other person.

The image was recovered by police searching his phone.

Officers also found extreme pornographic images showing a person performing sex acts on a horse, as well as a prohibited "cartoon" image of a child.

Simon Parry, defending, told the court Mason's family had become aware of the offences and his pleas, and were supportive of him.

He said: "Mr Mason is entirely realistic that the court will have concerns from a risk management point of view, given the conversations that were ongoing on the internet in this case.

"There are clearly issues. You can't distribute images, whatever the reason for it - whether you believe you're hunting those interested in this area. "There are proper and professional bodies and organisations for that, it's not for private citizens."

Judge Niclas Parry told Mason: "Over five months you made determined efforts to engage in vulgar and sick conversation with other people for sexual gratification at the expense of incalculable harm to young children.

"There were references to rape, torture - all related to very young females.

"Clearly you hold distorted thoughts regarding children.

"Your claim that you were doing this in the best interest of children by detecting paedophiles is clearly palpable nonsense."

He handed Mason an eight month sentence on each of the distribution offences to run concurrently but suspended them for 18 months.

No separate penalty was imposed in respect of the other two offences.

Mason was ordered to undertake a rehabilitation activity requirement of 60 days, as well as paying £420 costs.

He was also made the subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order, which pertains to his use of devices and the internet, as well as prohibiting him from having unsupervised contact with any female child under the age of 16 unless approved by the family and social services.