A self-styled paedophile hunter who breached a restraining order has been put on probation for two years.

Andrew Fenton was found guilty of the offence after a trial by magistrates as well as two offences contrary to the telecommunications act, having pleaded not guilty to them all.

The offences were said to relate to emails and social media messages involving false accusations made against two men.

Fenton, who is 43 and lives at Cronk Grianagh, Strang, was said to have breached the restraining order the same day it was issued.

On that day, November 19, he had been fined £2,000 after admitting harassment of two men during a year-long campaign on Facebook posting accusations that they were part of a four-man paedophile ring.

Of the latest offences, Fenton’s advocate, Laurence Vaughan-Williams, said: ’It is very difficult to come to a conclusion about somebody unless you have stood in their shoes.

’Mr Fenton is not a well man. I would presume he has some kind of cognitive disorder.

’Throughout the trial it was clear he thought he saw himself doing a public service and acting where the constabulary had failed to act.’

Mr Vaughan-Williams referred to a probation report, which had recommended probation as the most appropriate sentence, and said: ’The world Mr Fenton was in bore little relation to reality but in his mind it was real.

’In his mind he was performing a public service. Until that mindset is addressed it would be totally inappropriate to impose a custodial sentence.

’We no longer lock people up for having mental health problems.’

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain said: ’We must not forget the effect this had on the complainants.

’We heard awful comments made disparaging their reputations.’

Magistrates chair Geoff Collier told Fenton: ’What you did was extremely damaging to your victims and had a considerably negative impact on your victims.’