A self-styled paedophile hunter who falsely accused two men has been fined £2,000 and handed a suspended sentence.

Andrew Fenton, aged 43, of Cronk Grianagh, Strang, harassed the men during a year-long campaign on Facebook posting accusations that they were part of a four-man paedophile ring.

Magistrates’ chair Lisa Horton told Fenton that the case had been very distressing and that the men he accused must have been terrified.

’To be bombarded by allegations with no real ability to respond or answer would be terrifying,’ she said.

’The consequences have been devastating. You have taken it upon yourself to act as judge and jury.’

A seemingly unrepentant Fenton was told to leave the courtroom after responding by saying: ’It’s been very distressing for the victims too.’

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in custody, suspended for two years and given an indefinite restraining order relating to the men.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain said he could not think of anything worse than the allegations made.

After an extensive investigation the men accused by Fenton were released without charge as police said there to be no evidence.

Fenton then began his campaign against two of the men publishing the allegations on Facebook and directing some posts to the men’s families.

One post was said to have shown a photo of one of the men in front of his workplace with the caption ’Did the innocent little girls count?’.

Fenton was also said to have referred to the man’s car, location and whereabouts.

Other posts advised him to leave the island.

When interviewed Fenton gave ’no comment’ responses to questions.

Despite being arrested and bailed Fenton continued the harassment, posting more comments and contacting people who did business with one of the men advising them not to use him.

He also set up a Whatsapp group with others to discuss bringing a child to the island and taking them to one of the men’s flats, and posted more allegations on a Facebook group.

In court, Fenton pleaded guilty to conduct amount to harassment between September 2019 and September 2020.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said that his client had been abiding by a condition not to use social media.

Mr Rodgers said that the allegations against the men had been taken seriously as no charges of wasting police time had been laid.

The advocate said that Fenton was a single father and carer for his own father.

Magistrates ordered Fenton to pay the £2,000 fine and £125 prosecution costs at a rate of £80 per month.

Ms Horton said they had considered Fenton’s caring responsibilities, lack of previous convictions, and his guilty plea when suspending the sentence.