The man is accused of emailing the 13-year-old girl between February and this December of this year and telling her they were ''soul mates'' who would ''have each other forever''.

Federal Agent Rachel Batterham told the ACT Magistrates Court yesterday that the 58-year-old had made references to going on a honeymoon with the girl, told her they would be together for a long time and signed correspondence with ''love, hugs and kisses''.

Agent Batterham said the girl's father complained to police about what he thought was inappropriate contact between his daughter and the man, who he knew through the Freemasons society.

''The victim's father trusted the defendant, which was why he was so devastated to learn about the contact,'' Agent Batterham said. She told Magistrate Grant Lalor that the accused's wife and adult son no longer wanted him to live with them in the family home. ''Last night she made it clear that she was disappointed and horrified by this behaviour,'' she said.

The court heard the accused was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at a north Canberra shopping centre. According to a police statement, the man was set up by investigators who had assumed the girl's online identity.

Mr Lalor said it appeared that the man had gone to pick up the young girl intending to have sex with her. He granted the man bail on condition that he not contact the girl, not leave the ACT nor be in the company of a female under the age of 18.

The accused will reappear in court early next year.