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.
Appeal to European Court being considered after ruling over Troubles disclosures
Executive agrees to set aside £119m for PSNI data breach payouts
Concern voiced as next phase of Omagh Bombing Inquiry hearings delayed
Four fatal house fires in three days in Northern Ireland ‘deeply concerning’
‘Much more to do’ to protect children in NI from sexual exploitation – report