A GRANDFATHER was warned he faces a potential prison sentence after he distributed a child abuse video and admitted downloading extreme animal pornography.

Mark Sheen, of Beechfield Avenue, Newport, pleaded guilty to forwarding one category A film, classified as depicting the most extreme type.

The 59-year-old was due to be sentenced at the city’s crown court, but the case was adjourned so that a report could be prepared.

Gareth Williams, mitigating, said Sheen had forwarded the image to five of his friends after he had received it on his mobile phone.

His barrister said: “There was no sexual gratification. This was very poor judgement by him.

“Things are forwarded on phones. He is very sorry.

“Not for a millisecond did he think he would be appearing in Newport Crown Court. He is mortified.

“He is a father-of-four and a grandfather and he is involved in the community.

“He has already signed on the sex offenders' register. He has shown bad judgement without appreciating the consequences.”

Mr Williams said Sheen was a man of previous good character with no convictions recorded against him.

The prosecutor in the case was Bethan Evans.

Sheen pleaded guilty to possessing an extreme animal pornography image, distributing an indecent photograph of a child and possessing an indecent photograph of a child.

Judge Jeremy Jenkins agreed to adjourn so that a pre-sentence report could be prepared on the defendant by the Probation Service.

He told Sheen: “The fact that I am adjourning gives no indication as to the type of sentence you will be likely to face.

“All sentencing options are open. It is very much in your interest for a good report to be prepared.”

Judge Jenkins did however ask the probation officer in court to “explore alternatives to custody”.

Sheen is now due to be sentenced on May 10.