By Ryan Hooper
A man widely named as the Army's notorious IRA agent Stakeknife has admitted two counts of possessing extreme pornography.
Freddie Scappaticci, 72, appeared briefly before Westminster magistrates in central London to admit the charges.
Wearing a blue fleece and green tracksuit bottoms, Scappaticci spoke with an Irish accent to enter his pleas to the charges.
Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot sentenced Scappaticci to three months in custody, suspended for 12 months.
The court heard the charges related to at least 329 images, including those involving animals. There were no images involving children.
The magistrate said: "You have not been before the court for 50 years - and that's good character in my book."
Scappaticci has always strongly denied claims that he is Stakeknife, a high-ranking military mole who reputedly led the republican organisation's "nutting squad", an internal security unit which interrogated and murdered suspected spies during the Northern Ireland conflict.
Search operation under way after reports of man going overboard from ferry
Sentencing Bill, including Charlotte’s Law, to be introduced shortly: Naomi Long
Man dies following crash between car and van in Hillsborough
Woman dies in Cookstown road crash
Extra £400m to support health and education in Northern Ireland