Lab technician Charles Cannon had ‘terrorist motivations’, a court heard.

A laboratory technician with “terrorist motivations” who collected documents on how to make homemade explosives and weapons has avoided a prison sentence.

Charles Cannon was convicted of seven charges of possessing terrorist information dating back to when he was 16 and 17 years old.

Ben Isaacs, prosecuting, told Winchester Crown Court that the 22-year-old, of Aldershot, Hampshire, had a “dangerous mindset”.

He told the court that Cannon had sent a message saying “I am not a virgin but I am a terrorist”.

He added: “He mocked up a Nazi party membership card and put his name on it.

“He repeated on many occasions antisemitic tropes, he said he would kill when speaking about people of colour, he spoke enthusiastically of the stabbing of asylum seekers.

“This is not a case of mimicking. Mr Cannon did have terrorist motivations and the suggestion this was balanced out by pro-LGBTQ views simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.”

Sentencing Cannon to 18 months in prison suspended for two years, Judge Jane Miller KC told the defendant: “It’s clear that you held, and likely still do harbour, extremist and hateful views.”

But she said that she had taken in consideration his age when the offences were committed and his mental health and lack of previous convictions when deciding to suspend the prison sentence.

Mr Isaacs told the trial that Cannon, who has autism, was stopped at Luton airport under terrorism regulations in August 2020 and a search of his phone found the guide on making explosives.

He said that further searches of his devices and his computer at his home uncovered the other documents as well as racist, antisemitic and misogynistic messages on social media.

The documents found on his computer included guides on homemade explosives, “unconventional warfare devices and techniques”, and “booby traps”.

Giving evidence, Cannon said that he had downloaded the files as part of a cache of documents on a file-sharing website which were part of a collection created in the name of Uncle Fester – the pseudonym of Steve Preisler who produced books on the manufacture of methamphetamine in the 1980s and was jailed for possession of the illegal drug.

He said he had wanted to research the production of the drug as part of his fixation on the show Breaking Bad which tells the story of a teacher who starts making the drug to fund his cancer treatment.

Cannon admitted that he had previously held “vile and disgusting” views but his politics had changed under the influence of his Brazilian wife whom he married a year ago.

The former Catholic school pupil, who went on to work for Procter & Gamble after leaving school, said: “I used to believe in some very vile and disgusting things but she has changed me for the better.”

Evening Standard

A Cardiff man has been jailed for more than four years for terrorism offences after sharing extreme right-wing propaganda videos.

Kristen Persen, 22, from Fairwater in Cardiff, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday January 18, where he was handed a four years and eight months sentence, he was ordered to serve a minimum of two thirds of the sentence.

Persen had previously appeared at court last month where he pleaded guilty to 10 charges; six counts of Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006 (sharing terrorism material) and four counts under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (collecting terrorism information).

He was arrested at an address in Cardiff on 30 November 2022 following a joint investigation between the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (WM CTU) and Counter Terrorism Policing Wales (CTP Wales).

On his laptop, detectives found instructional books and manuals for the manufacture of firearms, explosives and detonators as well as white supremacist propaganda. Material was also found glorifying proscribed extreme right-wing banned organisations relating to Nazism, racism, anti-Semitism ideology.

Also found at his address was a large amount of clothing, flags and stickers illustrating and supporting right wing views.

Temporary Detective Chief Superintendent Anastasia Miller, from CTP WM CTU said:

“We work tirelessly to secure convictions of individuals such as Persen who pose a significant threat to communities across the country.

“Extremists use this kind of ideology to create discord, distrust and fear among our communities and we strive to counter this. As a result of these investigations, we have seen a significant increase of right-wing referrals to our Prevent programme.

“Our proactive efforts to confront the threat posed by extreme right-wing terrorism continues.”

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Williams, Head of Investigations at Counter Terrorism Policing Wales stated:

“We welcome the outcome of the court process, which is the result of a lengthy and extremely detailed joint investigation between Counter Terrorism officers in both Wales and the West Midlands.

“It clearly demonstrates the benefits and strengths of a collective approach to what are often very complex cases to investigate. The safety and the security of the public is at the heart of everything we do, and our officers and staff rightly go to great lengths to meet that objective. The outcome of the court case helps us ensure that continues to be the case.”

Every year thousands of reports from the public help police tackle the terrorist threat. If you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts and ACT by reporting to police in confidence at gov.uk/ACT.

Reporting won’t ruin lives, but it could save them. Action Counters Terrorism. Remember, in an emergency, always dial 999.

South Wales Police

Jurors found Melia guilty after just a day of deliberations

A far-right organiser who had posters of Oswald Mosley and Adolf Hitler up inside his house has been found guilty of publishing material designed to stir up racial hatred.

Jurors returned guilty verdicts for that charge, and one of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an either-way offence on Wednesday, January 24.

Melia, 34, has been standing trial at Leeds Crown Court and last week jurors heard how he was arrested in April 2021 and his home searched, where officers discovered the images as well as a Nazi emblem, depicting an eagle with outstretched wings over a swastika.

Prosecutor Tom Storey KC told the court in his opening that Melia – a member of Patriotic Alternative – had set up a Telegram channel named Hundred Handers.

A far-right organiser who had posters of Oswald Mosley and Adolf Hitler up inside his house has been found guilty of publishing material designed to stir up racial hatred.

Jurors returned guilty verdicts for that charge, and one of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an either-way offence on Wednesday, January 24.

Melia, 34, has been standing trial at Leeds Crown Court and last week jurors heard how he was arrested in April 2021 and his home searched, where officers discovered the images as well as a Nazi emblem, depicting an eagle with outstretched wings over a swastika.

Prosecutor Tom Storey KC told the court in his opening that Melia – a member of Patriotic Alternative – had set up a Telegram channel named Hundred Handers.

Mr Storey said: “Also found within the defendant’s Telegram posts and chat were messages which make clear that he expected that Hundred Handers stickers would be displayed in public places, and also that he had placed stickers in such places himself.

“He noted that there was to be a BLM (Black Lives Matter) protest in his town, and that he was going to ‘plaster the surrounding area the night before’.”

Jurors heard during the trial that Melia was stopped at Manchester Airport in possession with the stickers but he claimed to have downloaded them from the internet. Mr Storey said that an account under the name Sam M wrote: “Marx explained everything to me. Wasn’t stupid enough to link me or myself…Shouldn’t have handed my phone in or told them anything at all. This account is secure as is tied to a burner phone, really just my holiday snaps they got so just easily rattled.”

Mr Storey said: “This is him passing comment about his earlier stop at the airport, making reference to having a second phone.”

In his evidence, Melia told jurors the stickers were designed to “start a conversation.” Giving evidence on Friday last week, Melia said he had not intended to incite racial hatred with the stickers, adding: “The idea was always conversations about topics. They are topics like the grooming gangs or rape gangs that have been prevalent across this country. The idea of the messages is to start a conversation, not to make someone feel intimidated.”

He said the stickers were intended to be put on street furniture such as lamp posts, benches, bus stops and “places people are waiting”. “You go round Leeds and there’s stickers on everything. There must be a reason people are putting them out there,” Melia told jurors.

Asked by his barrister, Richard Canning, whether he intended for the stickers to be seen, the defendant said: “Oh god yes, it’s not just for my own pleasure. What use would a sticker be sat in your bedroom drawers? I intended for them to be public.”

Melia told jurors he described himself as “pro-British or a white advocate”, and was intending to stand as a candidate for a local council for a second time. He denied hating people of different races, saying: “Everyone deserves their own homeland and I wish them well in that homeland.” Jurors were sent out to consider the verdicts at 3.25pm on Thursday after barristers gave their closing speeches.

After the verdicts were delivered on Wednesday, Melia was told he would be sentenced on March 1 by His Honour Judge Tom Bayliss KC. The judge also warned Melia against posting on the internet prior to his sentencing.

He said: “You know perfectly well what happened when members of the public wrote in about your tweeting or Telegraph or whatever it was you were doing. You wrote about the trial…You really must keep quiet about this – tempting though it may be for you. If you must make your views public on this or any other aspect of it, it wouldn’t go well for you.”

Melia was bailed until his sentencing hearing.

Following the verdicts, Nick Price of the Crown Prosecution Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division said: “Melia was perfectly aware that the stickers he published on his Telegram channel were being downloaded and then stuck up in public places around the country.

“He also knew full well the impact these racially inflammatory stickers were having, and by attempting to remain anonymous, sought to protect himself and others from investigation. He was very deliberate in the manner he wanted to spread his messages of racial hatred, and online messages recovered made it clear that he knew these stickers were being displayed in public and causing damage to public property.

“It is illegal to publish such material intending to stir up racial hatred towards others, and the CPS will not hesitate to bring prosecutions against those who break the law in this way.”

Leeds Live

Police van set on fire at clash last year outside Knowsley hotel housing 163 men awaiting asylum decisions

Four men have been found guilty of violent disorder at a protest outside a hotel providing temporary accommodation to asylum seekers.

A jury at Liverpool crown court watched footage showing crowds chanting “get them out” and throwing fireworks at a police cordon.

Three police officers were injured and a police van was set on fire during the demonstration outside Suites hotel in Knowsley, Merseyside, on 10 February last year.

At the time, 163 men were staying in the hotel while they awaited decisions on their asylum cases, the court heard.

The protest was said to have been organised by the English Defence League, although there was no evidence that the four men were members of a far-right group.

Brian McPadden, 61, Thomas Mills, 47, Paul Lafferty, 42, and Jonjo O’Donoghue, 21, all admitted being present on the night but denied violent disorder. A jury found them guilty on Monday after deliberating for more than six hours.

One member of the public left the court saying “you fucking bastards” after the first guilty verdict was returned.

Mills, who suffered two epileptic seizures during the trial, began to sob after the verdicts were returned and then fell from his seat.

The court was adjourned as medical assistance was given and an ambulance was called.

During the trial, the court heard that police were made aware on 9 February last year that a protest was expected to take place outside the hotel.

There was “ill feeling” locally after a video was shared on social media appearing to show an asylum seeker from the hotel asking a 15-year-old girl for her phone number and a kiss, the court heard.

The jury was told social media posts were made about the planned demonstration and leaflets were delivered.

On the Friday evening, members of a rightwing group and a leftwing group gathered outside the hotel.

DC David Williams told the court that at about 7pm a large group of people arrived at the hotel. He said: “At that time, it seemed that tensions changed somewhat.”

Footage showed crowds chanting “get them out” and throwing fireworks at a cordon of police officers while a police van burned.

Rocks and paving slabs were also thrown, with one police officer needing hospital treatment and another two suffering less serious injuries.

Mills could be seen in footage standing on top of the van before it was set alight holding a banner which read: “Let’s shout, get them out.”

McPadden was heard in the footage saying: “We protect our own, yous are not from Kirkby, we are. These are twats, the lot of them.”

Five other men pleaded guilty to violent disorder at earlier hearings and have not yet been sentenced.

Seven youths, aged between 13 and 17, have been sentenced after they admitted violent disorder. Six were given referral orders and one was fined.

Jared Skeete, 19, was sentenced to three years’ detention last April after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder, having thrown fireworks and snorted ketamine while shouting abuse at police.

Three women – Cheryl Nicholls, 44, Nicola Elliott, 52, and Jennifer Knox, 41 – were found not guilty of violent disorder halfway through the trial after the judge told the jury there was “insufficient evidence”.

A fifth defendant, Daniel Fulham, 39, was found on Monday to be not guilty of violent disorder and of a lesser offence of abusive or threatening behaviour with intent to provoke violence.

The Guardian

Tyrone Pattern-Walsh 36, from Romford, was convicted of terror offences yesterday following an investigation by the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command.

Pattern-Walsh was one of two men who used a podcast series to encourage listeners to commit violent acts against ethnic minorities and have now been jailed for a combined total of 15 years.

Christopher Gibbons, 40 and Tyrone Patten-Walsh, were identified by Met officers as being the hosts of a neo-Nazi online podcast.

The podcast hosts had launched a horrendous attack on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son Archie, as well as airing their homophobic, racist, antisemitic, Islamophobic and misogynistic views, and on some occasions they encouraged listeners to commit acts of terrorist violence.

The investigation found that Gibbons had also created an online library containing hundreds of extreme right-wing texts and other material.

The content in the online library and podcast was assessed and some of the material was found to be in breach of terrorism legislation. Met detectives subsequently arrested the men in May 2021, and in August 2021 charged them with a number of terrorism offences.

The men were convicted of all the charges against them following a trial at Kingston Crown Court which concluded on Friday, 7 July.

On Thursday, 4 January, at the same court, Gibbons was sentenced to eight years in prison for eight counts of encouraging acts of terrorism, contrary to section one of the Terrorism Act 2006, and two counts of dissemination of terrorist publications, contrary to section two of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Patten-Walsh was sentenced to seven years in prison for eight counts of encouraging acts of terrorism.

Both will also be subject to a 15-year-long Part 4 notification order and serve three years on licence when they are released, to reduce their ability to cause further harm.

Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “The material that Gibbons and Patten-Walsh shared is exactly the kind that has the potential to draw vulnerable people – particularly young people – into terrorism.

“We are determined to identify and hold to account individuals pushing this material. In this case, officers reviewed hours-upon-hours of material to present a compelling case.

“I hope this case and today’s sentencing sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those who share terrorist material or encourage others to become involved in terrorism.”

Anyone who comes across extremist content online is urged to report it to police online and anonymously at gov.uk/act

Officers identified that the duo had produced 21 episodes of the podcast. Gibbons’ neo-Nazi online library was found by officers to have held more than 500 videos of extreme right-wing-related speeches and propaganda documents. It had nearly 1,000 subscribers, and the content had been viewed more than 152,000 times.

The videos and files were analysed by a team of specialist officers from the Met’s specialist Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit and they assessed that the material breached terrorism legislation.

Officers identified seven videos and a further document that, as well as containing extremist views, contained particular imagery, rhetoric or information that encouraged others to carry out terrorist acts.

Visit the ACT Early website to find out how you can seek help and support for anyone who you suspect may be being radicalised.

Havering Daily

A student who prowled paths and streets slapping, grabbing and “cupping” the buttocks of schoolgirls and young women has been spared jail after a sheriff ruled he would be “vulnerable” in custody.

Jaden Milne, whose actions were described as “sinister” and “predatory”, targeted four girls and young women aged from 11 to 19, across Forth Valley, leaving some of them terrified, Falkirk Sheriff Court was told.

Twenty-one-year-old Milne sexually assaulted his victims at a bus stop, on a lonely rural path, in Stirling city centre and in a branch of Poundland.

The court heard the first in the series of incidents occurred at 7.20pm on June 21, 2022, when a 19-year-old woman was waiting for a bus in Alloa Road, Clackmannan.

Prosecutor James Moncrieff said she was alone and listening to music when she was “startled” by Milne who “walked past, grabbed her left buttock, and continued to walk”.

Less than a week later, he attacked a 12 year old girl who was walking on a “remote rural pathway” towards Clackmannan from Alloa.

The girl noticed a man, Milne, acting suspiciously.

Then she “became aware of a hand striking her across the buttocks”.

Mr Moncrieff said: “Out of instinct she lashed out with her elbow, striking the accused, who ran off.”

The girl also took out her phone and recorded him running away. But a few minutes later she saw him following her
again.

“Extremely scared” she ran to a friend’s house and contacted her mother, who uploaded the pictures she had taken to Facebook.

Someone recognised her attacker as Milne, and the police were contacted.

Four months later, Milne struck again, sneaking up behind a 16-year-old girl as she was leaving the Thistles shopping centre in Stirling.

Mr Moncrieff said she “felt someone cup her bottom”.

Realising she was outside the Royal Bank of Scotland she went in and asked the manager to check CCTV, which showed Milne sneaking up behind her.

The incident happened in broad daylight at 1.36pm.

The last victim in the series of sexual assaults was a girl aged 11, who “felt a hand grabbing the left hand side of her buttocks” as she browsed shelves in Poundland, Alloa, about 3pm on May 7 this year.

Mr Moncrieff said: “She was extremely shaken by this unexpected and untoward action”.

The incident was witnessed by shop staff, who stopped Milne from leaving, checked CCTV and obtained an image of him, and called police.

He was later arrested.

Milne, of Clackmannan, pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault.

Solicitor Charlotte Watt, defending, said he had a porn addiction, but begged for him to be spared jail.

She said: “He fully understands how terrified these girls and young women must have been.

“He has already served one week on remand, and it was a harrowing experience for him.”

She said he had now quit his TV and film studies course, which he had been attending in Glasgow.

Sheriff Maryam Labaki said Milne had displayed “a sinister pattern of predatory behaviour towards young women and girls”.

After reading background reports, she sentenced him to a 12 month restriction of liberty order – during which time he will be subject to an 8pm to 7am electronic curfew – plus 150 hours unpaid work. She also placed him on social work supervision for three years.

She told him on Wednesday: “I’m satisfied you suffer from certain vulnerabilities that would make you vulnerable in a custodial setting.”

Daily Record

An ex-soldier who admired Adolf Hitler and planned to burn down a left-wing bookshop has been jailed for nearly five years.

A court heard William Howitt, 27, wrote a detailed guide on his phone to carry out the arson attack on the Five Leaves Bookshop in Nottingham.

The plan included painting a swastika and “white lives matter” on the wall.

He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday after he was found guilty of preparing a terrorist act.

Howitt was also jailed for perverting the course of justice, a charge he admitted after his trial had finished.

The court had heard the guide for burning down the bookshop was written on 7 September 2020.

It referenced smashing the windows of the bookshop and dousing books and upholstery with petrol.

On the same day, Howitt bought a hammer to break glass and tarpaulin – both items mentioned in the plan.

‘Glorifying Hitler’

Howitt was jailed for four-and-half years for preparing a terrorist act and four months consecutively for perverting the course of justice after he got someone else to take the rap for a speeding offence.

Sentencing, Judge Paul Farrer KC said Howitt’s arson attack plan was “at best inept, at worse nonsensical”, and written in a hotel room late at night under the influence of cocaine and alcohol during a period of low mood and low self-esteem.

However, he said, Howitt had “entrenched right-wing views” which had developed since leaving the army.

Judge Farrer said: “You were virulently antisemitic, anti-Islam and opposed to the left-wing, you glorified Hitler and were sympathetic of acts of terror towards those you disapproved of.”

Judge Farrer said Howitt chose the Five Leaves bookshop as a target because it was “the embodiment of everything you detested”.

He said: “You listed the equipment you would need including petrol, a lighter, an air pistol, a knife, tarpaulin, a balaclava, contact gloves.

“You already owned several of these items.

“Having completed and saved your plan, you went to bed and sobered up.

“You told the jury you would do things when drunk you would forget the following day. However, in the following days, the glass hammer and tarpaulin arrived at your address and you cannot have forgotten you created ‘plan A’.

“Despite this, there is no evidence you ever visited the note again or sought to progress your plan.

“Having heard the evidence, it is possible and probable when you woke the following day you no longer had a settled intention to attack the bookshop.

“As time progressed you simply forgot about it altogether. But following this, you maintained your extreme right-wing views.”

‘Burn us down’

A victim impact statement was read to the court on behalf of Fives Leaves bookshop owner Ross Bradshaw.

He said customers had been supportive but the matter had been “hanging over” staff since March.

He said: “With thousands of titles, we’d be surprised if every customer liked all our books. Our commitment to diversity runs with the grain of bookselling.

“But, if you don’t like our books, just walk away, don’t plan to burn us down.”

He said the fact that Howitt was a former soldier made his arson plans much worse, adding: “He set out to damage our lives but succeeded in damaging his own. We hope he seeks help to reintegrate into society so no other bookshop faces the same.”

Nick Price, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said in a statement after the sentencing: “His plan to carry out the arson attack was fuelled by his anger and hatred towards those whose views who were strongly opposed to his own.

“Howitt’s drafting of the plan was accompanied by the purchase of two items and an attempt to obtain a third.

“It was clear this was not a fantastical creation without intent – he planned to carry out the attack.”

BBC News

Jaden Milne addressed the gathering in Livingston and made racist, anti-semitic and homophobic remarks

A member of an extreme far-right group has been convicted over a racist, anti-semitic and homophobic speech at a conference in Livingston.

Jaden Milne, from Clackmannanshire, addressed a gathering organised by Patriotic Alternative in October 2021 with his speech also broadcast on the internet.

The 21-year-old made racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic remarks, police found.

He was arrested in February 2022 and pled guilty in October 2023 to offences under the Public Order Act 1986 and abusive and threatening behaviour with a racial, disability and sexual orientation aggravation.

At Livingston Sheriff Court on Friday, December 1, he was given a community payback order requiring him to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “Hateful rhetoric such as that delivered by Jaden Milne is not welcome in our communities and we will actively investigate and take action against criminal behaviour such as this.

“Our focus is on protecting our citizens. Hate crime has no place in society and will not be tolerated.

“Police Scotland is committed to tackling hate speech and intolerance so people can live freely and safely, without fear of prejudice.

“I would urge anyone with information about hate speech to report your concerns to Police Scotland and we will investigate. You can contact Police Scotland by calling 101 or online via our website.”

STV

An ex-soldier who planned to burn down a left-wing bookshop has also admitted perverting the course of justice.

William Howitt, 27, was convicted of preparing a terrorist act at Birmingham Crown Court on November 16.

He wrote a guide on carrying out the attack on the Five Leaves Bookshop in Nottingham, the jury had heard.

At Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, he pleaded guilty to doing a series of acts to pervert the course of justice. He will be sentenced on 20 December.

Howitt, of West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, was remanded in custody.

He admitted perverting the course of justice between 24 March and 20 June 2022, but was found guilty of the terrorism charge.

Howitt admired Adolf Hitler, the trial in Birmingham had heard.

The guide for burning down the bookshop was written on 7 September 2020.

It referenced smashing the windows of the bookshop and dousing books and upholstery with petrol.

On the same day, Howitt bought a hammer to break glass and tarpaulin – both items mentioned in the plan.

The plan included painting a swastika and “white lives matter” on the wall.

Giving evidence earlier this month, Howitt, who became a crane operator after leaving the Army, denied having racist views.

He said he had issues with his mental health and would say things he did not mean when abusing cocaine and alcohol.
BBC News

An alleged far-right extremist has admitted assaulting a woman.

Alex Hutton, 18, from Morriston, in Swansea, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm on 20 May.

The teenager also admitted having a bladed article in public in November and breaching a criminal behaviour order imposed on 9 September, 2021.

The defendant, also known as Alex Edwards, entered his pleas at the Old Bailey by video link from Wormwood Scrubs on Friday.

He was not asked to enter pleas to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and disseminating terrorist publications.

The terrorism offence, alleged to have taken place between September 24 and November 16, is believed to relate to an extreme right-wing homemade video.

A plea and case management hearing in relation to the other charges will take place on April 12.

Mr Hutton was remanded into custody until the next hearing.

BBC News