He was arrested after a mural was daubed with racist graffiti

A teenager from Wales has appeared in court in London to admit a string of terrorism offences. The 17-year-old boy. who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested after a series of racially offensive and homophobic graffiti was daubed across various sites across south Wales.

Among them was racist Nazi graffiti painted on a mural in Port Talbot that celebrated the region’s Caribbean community. Swastikas, the words “Nazi zone” and a racial slur were painted on the mural, which was initially a part of the Street Art Trail and had been been created by the ARTWalk community group to celebrate the town’s Caribbean community.

It also included the numbers 1488, a code used by neo-Nazis and white supremacists to broadcast hate speech in a covert manner and to show their alliance with others in their movement. South Wales Police said an investigation then followed into “online activities.”

A force spokesman said the boy faced four charges relating to eight offences under Section of 2 of the Terrorism Act. They are three counts of disseminating terrorist material, two counts of possession of material likely to be of use to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, two counts of racially aggravated criminal damage to the Windrush Mural in Port Talbot and one count of “homophobically aggravated criminal damage” in Cardiff City Centre.

The mural in Port Talbot was to represent the Caribbean community within Port Talbot through portraits of Donna Campbell, born and raised in the town, and a portrait of her mother, Mrs Campbell, who came to Wales during the Windrush period.

Superintendent Stephen Jones said at the time of the incident, last October: “Hateful behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated. “I want to reassure the local community that a full investigation is being undertaken with a view to ensuring those responsible are held fully accountable for their abhorrent actions.”

The youth was released on bail to allow for a pre-sentence report to be completed. He will be sentenced on August 21.

Wales Online

Christine Grayson was sentenced alongside Darren Reynolds who was also jailed for terror offences

An anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for plotting to destroy 5G masts.

Christine Grayson, 60, joined an online chat group in 2021 after “becoming obsessed” with the belief they were linked to the Covid-19 vaccine.

Leeds Crown Court heard she was a grandmother “of previously good character” who will be released after spending nine months on remand.

Her co-defendant Darren Reynolds, 60, was also jailed for terror offences.

Reynolds, of Newbould Crescent, Sheffield, had been cleared of conspiracy to commit criminal damage in relation to 5G masts, but found guilty of terrorism offences.

He was jailed for 12 years, with an additional year on licence, after being found guilty of offences linked to his “extreme right wing, antisemitic and racist views”.

Grayson, of Boothwood Road, York, had met Reynolds on the social media platform Telegram.

The court heard both defendants were strongly opposed to the roll-out of the 5G network – but Grayson had discussed “getting rid” of the mobile phone masts with expanding foam and angle grinders.

She was found guilty of conspiracy to commit criminal damage, while Reynolds was cleared of that charge.

He was found guilty of eight terrorist offences.

The court heard Reynolds discussed armed uprisings and advocated violence towards people he called “traitors”.

His comments included describing Parliament as “a nest of Jews, foreigners and collaborators” and repeatedly calling for MPs to be hanged.

His defence claimed his actions were no more than “free speech gone completely wrong and the line crossed”.

‘Just hot air’

Lee Karu said there was no evidence anyone had been encouraged by Reynolds.

However, Judge Kearl said he had “applauded the callous murders” of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess.

The judge said: “Your offending took place through an internet chat room group – you had set it up and you were the administrator.

“Many of the views you expressed were racist and grossly offensive to most right-thinking people.

“I am satisfied that it was not “just hot air”, your message was consistent and persistent, and you were calling people to arms.”

During their trial, the court heard how police had found a crossbow and a number of crossbow bolts at Grayson’s home, while at Reynolds’ they discovered two replica assault rifles.

Reynolds was told he would automatically become a registered terrorist offender.

Sentencing Grayson, Judge Kearl said: “You chose to take the law into your own hands and you discussed the methods of damaging the masts in an internet chat group.”

He said the methods she discussed were damaging the masts with fire or by “inserting expanding foam into the structure”.

He said she “knew there were ways she could express her views in a lawful manner” and said her actions showed an intention to cause serious damage.

Grayson was told she would be released on licence, but failure to comply and she would be returned to prison to serve the remainder of her sentence.

BBC News

Former BBC local radio presenter Alex Belfield has been banned from contacting a further two people after he was jailed for stalking.

A former BBC local radio presenter who was jailed for stalking broadcasters including Jeremy Vine has appeared in court again as he was banned from contacting two more people.

Alex Belfield, 43, was jailed for five years and 26 weeks in September 2022 after being found guilty of waging a campaign against four people including the BBC Radio 2 presenter.

Belfield appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court via video link from HMP Stocken in Rutland, East Midlands, on Thursday as District Judge Sunil Khanna made a stalking protection order preventing him from contacting a man he had sent a tweet to and his wife.

The order prevents Belfield, previously of Mapperley in Nottingham, from contacting or attempting to contact Greg Scott or his wife Karen Scott, or publish or attempt to publish any material relating to them.

Neither Mr or Mrs Scott were involved in last year’s trial, in which TV and radio host Mr Vine labelled Belfield “the Jimmy Savile of trolling” as the court heard he repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails.

How Belfield first came into contact with the pair was not mentioned in court.

YouTuber Belfield, who was wearing a tracksuit top and a green T-shirt and sat at a desk making notes during the brief hearing, addressed the court to say: “I have never met, gone near or ever contacted Karen Scott or done anything other than replying to Greg Scott. I just want to make that clear.”

District Judge Khanna said he was satisfied there was a need for the order to protect from stalking and warned Belfield he could face further jail time if he breached it.

He also made an order requiring Belfield to pay costs after barrister Christopher Pembridge said the case, which has been ongoing for three years, has cost police £20,000.

Mr Pembridge said it would be “unjust” for Belfield to pay the full costs, but asked the judge to consider an appropriate amount.

David Aubrey KC, acting for Belfield, argued that he would not be able to shoulder substantial costs because his ability to work after his release from prison would be limited and he could face a further civil case.

He said: “(Belfield) is in prison and on the question of his earning capacity when he comes out of prison, there could be restrictions on what work he could do. It is very much up in the air and will depend on what happens upon his release eventually.”

District Judge Khanna ordered Belfield to pay £403.

After a trial in August last year, Belfield was found not guilty of stalking charges in relation to the BBC’s former head of North Rozina Breen, former BBC Radio Leeds presenters Liz Green and Stephanie Hirst, and BBC executive Helen Thomas.

Evening Standard

A Sheffield man has been convicted of terrorism related offences after a five week trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Darren Reynolds, aged 60, of Newbould Crescent, Beighton, Sheffield was found guilty and remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on Monday, after appearing alongside co-accused Christine Grayson, agd 59, of Boothwood Road, York.

Reynolds was found guilty of:

> One offence under the Terrorism Act 2006, relating to direct/indirect encouragement of terrorism to others to the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism;

Darren Reynolds, aged 60, of Newbould Crescent, Beighton Sheffield, was found guilty of offences under the terrorism act and remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on Monday

Six offences under the Terrorism Act 2000, relating to possession of material containing information likely to be useful to a person committing an act of terrorism.

Grayson was found guilty of one offence of Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage.

The court heard Grayson subscribed to conspiracy theories involving 5G mobile phone masts and used her views to justify her plan to damage and potentially destroy local 5G masts.

Christine Grayson, aged 59, of Boothwood Road, York, was convicted of one offence of Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage

Reynolds posted and shared material that supported his extreme right-wing views. The jury heard he collected multiple sources of illegal neo-Nazi material included racist and antisemitic images. Police found replica fire arms after a search of his property.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of counter terrorism at Policing North East, said: “Hateful views aim to sow discord and distrust in our communities, and one post or video has the power to radicalise and encourage others to commit acts of terrorism.”

“If you’re concerned about something you’ve seen or heard, trust your instincts and report it. You can report your concerns in confidence at gov.uk/ACT.”

Replica weapons were found in a search of Reynold’s property, heard Leeds Crown Court

Sheffield Star

An extreme right-wing ‘conspiracy theorist’ who shared Adolf Hitler speeches and kept a pistol hidden in his bedroom has been jailed.

Alan Madden, 65, claimed he would not have used the weapon other than in ‘extreme circumstances’ to protect himself and his wife in the event of a ‘complete breakdown in society’.

Madden, who had lived in South Africa for 49 years, brought the semi-automatic pistol back with him when he returned to the UK.

384 rounds of ammunition, as well as a flick knife and three sets of nunchucks, were also found when his home in Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, was searched last September.

Two laptops and a mobile phone were seized and searches of the devices found Madden had ‘extreme right-wing views’ and an ‘unhealthy interest in firearms, weapons and proscribed organisations’.

Madden shared videos including speeches from Adolf Hitler and another promoting terror organisation National Action through his BitTube channel.

In an interview with police he said he thought the group, which was banned in 2016, was ‘commendable’.

The manifesto by the man behind the Christchurch terror attacks, and other calls to action, were also found on his devices.

Judge David Aubrey KC said: ‘You repeated you did not envisage needing to use the firearm in the UK but in 2020, in the early stages of the pandemic, you wondered whether social order may break down amidst civil unrest and you were glad you had it in case this led to you or your wife being exposed to the risk of attack.

‘National Action is a neo-Nazi group and you aligned yourself to its beliefs.

‘Such propaganda disseminated by you via social media featured extremely violent imagery and language.’

He said Madden brought the lethal weapon into the country ‘knowingly and with calculation’ and his immersion in firearms and other weapons had to be assessed against the background of his ‘warped ideology’.

Madden’s defence submitted that there was minimal risk of death or serious harm from his ownership of the firearm, adding that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and severe depression.

However Judge Aubrey did not accept this submission, adding: ‘In my judgment there was some risk of harm in that you, a complex man with the beliefs you held, were in possession of the weapon and ammunition, albeit that they remained in your home.’

Madden appeared at Liverpool crown court via video link from HMP Liverpool earlier today, where he was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison.

He had pleaded guilty to dissemination of a terrorist publication on the basis he was reckless, possession of a prohibited firearm, possessing prohibited ammunition, two counts of possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate, three counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a private place and possession of a flick knife.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of stirring up racial hatred but said he did not intend to cause racial hatred, although he accepted it was likely it would have been stirred up by his actions.

Metro

A “neo-Nazi” prison officer from South Yorkshire has been told he faces jail for possessing a terrorist handbook.

Ashley Podsiad-Sharp, 42, who worked at HMP Leeds until his arrest last May, was found guilty on Thursday of possessing a white supremacist handbook including advice on how to kill people.

He was cleared of a second charge of disseminating terrorist material by a Sheffield Crown Court jury on Friday.

But a judge warned him he would be jailed when he is sentenced in July.

Podsiad-Sharp, a father-of-two from the Barnsley area, founded a fitness club for neo-Nazis in 2020.

Prosecutors had alleged he was using White Stag Athletic Club, where he called himself “Sarge”, to train up extremists “like a soldier”.

But jurors cleared him of disseminating terrorist material in relation to rap songs with racist and extreme right-wing lyrics he posted on the group’s Telegram channel.

Podsiad-Sharp had told his trial the songs were “comedic parody,” saying: “It’s how the national socialist sense of humour works.”

He was convicted of possessing terrorist material after a copy of the White Resistance Manual, a far-right terrorist handbook, was found on his laptop in an encrypted “virtual safe”.

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Podsiad-Sharp the offence was “very serious” and “there is but one sentence in a case of this kind, and that is a sentence of imprisonment”.

“You had possession of an extremely detailed manual setting out the way in which terrorists could kill people, maim people, and in many respects endeavour to avoid detection,” he added.

Podsiad-Sharp was remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing on 21 July.

Det Chf Supt James Dunkerley, of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “Tackling extremist and instructional material is an essential part of protecting the public and preventing it from potentially influencing or informing the actions of others.

“We will prosecute anyone found to be in possession of such material and will continue work with our partners to remove content of concern from online platforms.”

BBC News

Alan Madden pleaded guilty to a litany of counts including dissemination of a terrorist publication and possession of a firearm

A man who shared videos of a banned far-right group had a gun in his house that he used to shoot “two or three people” in South Africa.

Alan Madden appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon, Wednesday, May 24 after admitting posting videos online promoting banned far-right group National Action and stirring up racial hatred. The 65-year-old had already pleaded guilty to a number of offences related to firearms and offensive weapons arising from the time of his arrest.

Madden’s home on Boundary Road, Port Sunlight – that he shared with his wife – was raided by officers from Merseyside Police and Counter Terrorism Policing North West on September 15 last year. Counter terrorism officers were investigating the sharing of material on social media and were concerned with what Madden had been posting.

When police raided the house Madden was asked if he knew why, to which he replied “not really”. During the raid police uncovered a number of weapons throughout the house. A Czech-made CZ Model 83, a 9mm pistol, was found in an unlocked box next to his bed. Simon Parry, prosecuting, told the court the gun was a “viable weapon” and prohibited in the UK.

Also in the box was a bag of 9mm bullets and six boxes of 50 rounds each. The officers also found a quantity of prohibited hollow point ammunition, which is made to expand upon impact, and could be used in the CZ 83. In total 385 rounds were found in the house, as well as three nunchucks and a flick knife.

The court heard Madden had owned the gun since 1983 when he lived in South Africa. He moved to the UK in 2017 – and two years later smuggled the gun over with him after a visit back to South Africa.

Mr Parry told the court that Madden had carried the weapon with him in South Africa and in 1984 had used it to defend himself against a robbery. Madden opened fire with the weapon and shot “two or three people dead”. He was arrested for murder but never charged.

Madden, who was described in court as a “survivalist” and “conspiracy theorist”, told officers he wasn’t going to use the gun unless there was a “breakdown in society”. He said he would use the weapon to protect him and his wife as he didn’t believe the government would.

A Samsung mobile phone and two laptops were also seized during the raid – and after originally refusing, Madden handed over the passwords as well. Mr Parry said police also found books by Adolf Hitler and Oswald Moseley in Madden’s house, as well as a copy of a presentation by Madden himself called “Adolf Hitler, the Jew and Holocaust Lies”. It was dated May last year and said it was delivered in Chester.

Investigations into Madden’s social media found he had shared emails with a man called Michael Wright in 2017, where he called National Action “the real deal” for people like themselves.

The court heard Madden, who was interviewed by police 18 times, thought the banned far-right group were “commendable” – and added the group were “youngsters trying to do something about serious issues”. He also knew the group were banned – and admitted to police the sharing of their material was “naughty”.

Between September and December 2020 Madden shared a series of videos on his Bitchute account. He shared a video, labelled as “National Action propaganda” by Mr Parry, which was narrated by Jonathan Bowden talking about the threat posed by ethnic minorities. Bowden was described as a “cult-hero” on the far-right.

He continued to share material that showed speeches by Nazi leader Hitler – where Jewish people were referred to as “liars” and a “satanic power”. Madden, who previously appeared before the Old Bailey on March 31 where he pleaded guilty to dissemination of a terrorist publication and three counts of stirring up racial hatred, said his sharing of material was “reckless”.

Richard Simons, defending, told the court Madden was “of good character” and had no criminal intent to use the gun. Mr Simons added the gun had also previously been lawfully owned, albeit in a different jurisdiction. Madden also claimed he kept the box padlocked – and while he “would not be able to swear by oath”, added the only reason for it being unlocked was because it had just been cleaned.

Conversations between Mr Simons and the presiding Honour Judge David Aubrey KC noted Madden had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as Guillain-Barré syndrome – a condition akin to polio that made the defendant “very unwell” when admitted to HMP Liverpool.

Mr Simons also asked for Madden to be given credit due to his guilty pleas. As well as the counts previously heard at the Old Bailey, Madden also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, possession of prohibited ammunition, possession of ammunition without certificate, possession of offensive weapon in private and possession of a gravity knife. Judge Aubrey confirmed Madden, who appeared at court wearing a black jacket and glasses, would be given full credit when it came to sentencing.

Judge Aubrey adjourned final sentencing until Tuesday, May 29.

Liverpool Echo

A teenage neo-Nazi obsessed with death filmed himself assaulting three teenage girls by spraying them with liquid in terrifying random attacks, a court has heard.

The boy was just 14 when he threw a mystery liquid at two girls as they sat enjoying the sunshine in a south-west London park on May 18 last year.

He carried out a similar attack eight days later, targeting a girl as she walked to a study session for her GCSE exams.

The Old Bailey heard the attacks were inspired the boy’s rapid descent into far right extremist ideology, and a dark trend with a group called the “Maniac Murder Club” for random violent attacks on strangers.

Police found videos of the attacks on the boy’s phone and computer, including edited versions with a Swastika added, Russian language commentary, and a death metal soundtrack.

Officers also found a vast amount of far right extremist material, including videos of executions, torture, rape, mutilation, and extreme violence.

He wrote about wanting a race war and the eradication of 60 per cent of the world’s population to leave only white people.

The boy had also collected BB gun parts, Nazi fridge magnets and badges, and a rubber gas mask, and used an alias online which included the Nazi code 1488 – a reference to Adolf Hitler.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker sentenced the boy, now 15, on Friday to a three-year youth rehabilitation order, putting him under “intense” surveillance and supervision for the rest of his childhood.

The court heard the boy was wearing a blue surgical face mask when he carried out the first random attack on two girls as they sat together on the grass in a park.

He is heard breathing heavily in the 24-second clip he made himself, running up to the victims and spraying a liquid at one of the girls in an attempt to hit her face.

“He started sprinting towards us, and I remember looking at his hands to see if he had a knife”, said one of the girls.

“He approached me as I was still sitting cross-legged. He pushed me with one continous push, I heard a continuous spraying noise, and closed my eyes as I realsied he was spraying me with something.

“My first reaction was it was acid, as I had heard about a lot of attacks on the news.”

The boy – who cannot be named – fled from the girls as they fought back, and the victims were able to wipe away the liquid without any lasting damage.

“I remember thinking it was a pepper spray attack or something similar”, said the second girl. “He was aiming something at her eyes.”

The second attack happened on May 26 last year, when the boy – again masked and filming himself – targeted a 16-year-old girl on her walk to a study session ahead of one of her GCSE exams.

The boy is breathing heavily as he approachs the girl who is walking along a path looking at her phone with earphones in.

“I didn’t say anything, nor did her, and all of a sudden I saw and felt a clear mist-like spray on my face”, she said.

“It sounded like an aerosol, the spray landed on my face and neck, it felt cold, I tried not to breath in and closed my eyes.”

The girl said she ran away screaming, and was helped by passersby who poured water over her head and took her to hospital.

She said her remaining GCSE exams were affected, and she has been left with a lasting fear of being in public alone.

“I am constantly worried that people I come across are him or related to him”, she said.

The court heard of the boy’s deep-seated hatred of homosexuality and non-white races.

In an unsent Telegram message, he said the ideology he most closely identifies with is National Socialism, and he would “prefer to live in a white society”.

“I think most of the people, maybe somewher around 60 per cent, are sh*t and should be dead”, he wrote. “They are stupid and they are all so closed-minded.”

The boy pleaded guilty to three charges of battery, possessing a bomb-making manual, and dissemination of a terrorist publication on the basis of recklessness.

The youth, from Isleworth, south-west London, also admitted having extreme pornography involving animals.

Passing sentence, the judge said the boy had expressed views of “wanting as many people as possible to die”, adding that a probation officer had concluded he “continues to be obsessed with death and believ you have been created for a special purpose, namely to purify the world by killing the majority of the population”.

The boy is now taking medication for paranoid schizophrenia and has been in fulltime education while in local authority custody awaiting the outcome of his case.

He was ordered to carry out 180 hours of an extended activity requirement as part of the sentence, and will be under a 9pm to 6am curfew as well as curbs on his use of the internet.

Evening Standard

A prison guard who founded a fitness club for neo-Nazis has been found guilty of possessing a white supremacist “terrorist manual”.

Ashley Podsiad-Sharp, 42, was convicted of possession of a document likely to be useful in preparing an act of terrorism on Thursday.

Podsiad-Sharp was an officer at HMP Leeds before his arrest last May.

A Sheffield Crown Court jury has yet to reach a verdict on a second charge of disseminating terrorist material.

The defendant, from the Barnsley area, told his trial he was a “national socialist” who had founded White Stag Athletic Club to provide a “community” for lonely men who shared his far-right views.

He had denied possession of a document called the White Resistance Manual, which contained advice on how to kill people using various weapons, insisting he had no idea how it came to be on his laptop in an encrypted “virtual safe”.

But he was remanded into custody after jurors unanimously convicted him after 10 hours and 40 minutes of deliberations.

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said he would accept a majority verdict for the second charge of disseminating terrorist material after the jury told him they could not reach a unanimous decision.

The charge relates to racist spoof rap songs, some of which glorified the Holocaust, which Podsiad-Sharp posted on White Stag Athletic Club’s Telegram channel.

BBC News

Mark Brown (36) was jailed for two months in 2019 for a “vile” racially motivated assault on a taxi driver

A former leader of the National Front in Northern Ireland has been arrested during a protest against asylum seekers in Portrush.

Mark Brown (36) was arrested by police on Sunday after he began to approach a group of counter-protesters.

Protestors held a Union flag during the demonstration alongside a banner displaying the slogans ‘Keep our children safe’ and ‘Close the migrant hotels now’.

A National Front flag was also erected on the fence surrounding a war memorial on Kerr Street during the protest.

The PSNI confirmed Brown had been given a penalty notice for disorder (PND).

“A 36 year old man was arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour during protests in the Kerr Street area of Portrush on Sunday afternoon,” said a spokesperson.

“He was subsequently given a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND).

“Officers were present in the area to ensure the safety of those participating in protest and counter-protest.”

Earlier this month, this newspaper revealed Brown was behind the protest as well as being the administrator of organising Facebook group ‘North Coast Concerned Collective’.

The group had organised the protest against the use of hotels in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area as accommodation for asylum seekers.

It followed comments from newly-elected TUV councillor Allister Kyle voicing concern that the former Magherabuoy House Hotel was to be used under new ownership to provide accommodation for asylum seekers.

“Naturally, nearby residents have many worries and concerns,” he said last month.

“Has the Council signed up to the government funding scheme to facilitate the housing of asylum seekers? If so, what thought was given to the concerns of local residents?”

A number of posts on the group’s page from an account operated by Brown under an assumed name contain racist, misogynistic and transphobic language.

Brown was jailed for two months in 2019 for a “vile” racially motivated assault on a taxi driver in Co Antrim.

A judge said Brown had gone “beyond the criminal pale” during the incident, for which he was handed a two-month prison sentence.

He punched the taxi driver, originally from the Middle East, on the head, got out without paying the £18.40 fare and then chased the man’s car as he tried to phone the police.

A court was told Brown had been convicted of offences against the taxi driver around a decade beforehand.

The victim said he received a call under a different name and at first was not aware who his passenger was. After he was arrested, Brown made remarks including “Muslim c***” and “low-rent Jihadi b******”.

Deputy District Judge Peter Magill said a suspended sentence dating back to 2015 had only expired when Brown committed the latest crime.

He added: “This was a racially aggravated offence. You did admit that you expressed quite abhorrent racist views in respect of this man while denying any assault and making off.

“There is no place in our society for this type of behaviour, no place in this society for racism”.

Sunday World