A GREAT-grandad from Rossett has been labelled “depraved” and “manipulative” after he breached his sexual harm prevention order by using a swingers website.

Michael Mason, of Strathalyn in Burton, received a suspended sentence at Mold Crown Court in February after admitting two counts of distributing indecent images of children, possession of extreme pornography and possession of a prohibited image of a child.

The 72-year-old, whose claim that he had been trying to detect paedophiles was branded “palpable nonsense” by a judge, was made the subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) pertaining to his use of devices and the internet.

Appearing at Mold Crown Court on Thursday, he admitted having breached the SHPO and having failed to comply with notification requirements.

Elen Owen, prosecuting, told the court Mason was visited by safeguarding authorities following the start of his suspended sentence and he confirmed he understood the terms of the SHPO.

But when visited again a week later he disclosed he had been meeting other couples for group sex via a website - his use and username for which had not been registered with the police as required.

He told safeguarding authorities he’d set up an account on the site about ten years previously and claimed he didn’t realise he had to let the police know about it.

Oliver King, defending, said: “It’s an adult swinger site and there’s no suggestion he was looking for anything illicit.

“This defendant has engaged from the beginning.

“He has suffered with mental health problems for the last 30 years.

“As depraved and morally reprehensible as some of his interests are, they’re not concerned with children, communicating with children or looking at illicit images.”

Judge Rhys Rowlands told Mason the behaviour for which he was sentenced in February was “disgusting” and “depraved.”

He told him: “You still don’t seem to realise the extent of your depravity.

“The [pre-sentence] report raises real concerns about whether you’re being candid with the probation service or the police.

“You’re a manipulative individual and your behaviour undoubtedly amounts to a deliberate breach.

“Not without misgivings, I am going to give you one further chance - only because of the way the offence came to light and was disclosed.

“You’re on thin ice.”

Mason was fined £500 and handed an eight month custodial sentence, suspended for two years.