Darren Hurrel, 21, turned up outside the school in his attempt to hand out leaflets before the pupils decided to confront him.

A man who assaulted a teenage boy during an incident outside a secondary school has been fined £290.

Darren Hurrel, 21, turned up outside Larkhall leisure centre in Lanarkshire to hand out leaflets and was surrounded by a group of pupils. Footage, which went viral online, showed pupils from nearby Larkhall Academy launching plastic bottles and cans towards Hurrel as anger grew.

He lashed out at a 14-year-old boy who had sprayed liquid on him and knocked him to the ground before leaving the scene. A depute head teacher at the school had to usher Hurrel inside for his own safety while police were phoned.

Hurrel, of Rigside, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted the assault in October last year. Sheriff Michael Higgins fined the first offender and warned him he now had a criminal record.

Allegations unemployed Hurrel had punched and repeatedly kicked the schoolboy on his body were deleted from the charge by prosecutors. The court heard Hurrel had been dishing out leaflets in Larkhall town centre and had returned to his car when the pupils surrounded him at lunchtime.

Depute fiscal Daisy Bentley said: “The complainer was at Larkhall leisure centre on his way back to school having been for his lunch. He noticed a large group of school pupils surrounding the accused who was handing out leaflets.

“Members of the group were throwing things towards the accused and he swung out towards the complainer and he has then thrown him to the ground. The accused began to walk towards Larkhall train station and a large group of pupils followed after him.”

Andy Iles, defending, said: “It does appear that the complainer in this case sprays a bottle of something and a fluid strikes Mr Hurrel. A large group of pupils aged between 12 and 15 were all throwing things at him and he is hit by a can and has tomato sauce thrown at him.

“He then reacts and lunges towards the boy, he swings at him and as a result the boy is knocked to the ground but it is quite clear there was a large degree of provocation. Mr Hurrel was eventually taken into the school by the depute head for his own safety.”

The lawyer added: “He had been handing out leaflets in Larkhall town centre and was in the process of returning to his car which coincided with the school lunch break and he began handing out leaflets to pupils and animosity grew.”

Sheriff Higgins said: “This is a very much reduced charge that you have pled guilty to. I will deal with this by way of monetary penalty but you do now have a conviction for an assault charge and if you engage in similar behaviour then I have no doubt it will not go in your favour.”

Hurrel was allowed to pay the fine at a rate of £20 per month.

Daily Record

A man has admitted wearing a football shirt at Wembley Stadium which made an offensive reference to the Hillsborough disaster.

James White, 33, from Warwickshire, pleaded guilty to displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The judge at Willesden Magistrates’ Court said it was “abhorrent”.

The court heard he had worn a shirt with 97 and the words “Not Enough” on the back at the FA Cup Final on 3 June.

District Judge Mark Jabbitt said: “It is hard to imagine a more… offensive reference to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.”

The judge added the shirt White wore bore a “hateful expression” – calling it an “abhorrent message” – and that the impact of his actions are “profound and distressing”.

Ninety-seven football fans died as a result of a crush at a match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield on 15 April 1989.

‘Completely unacceptable’

In 2016, inquests concluded the fans had been unlawfully killed.

After White was arrested at Wembley Stadium, the court heard he was cautioned and told police: “You haven’t even asked me what the T-shirt means.

“My grandad died aged 97 and didn’t have enough kids.”

The prosecution said White had “many” previous convictions, dating most recently to 2021, but none were football-related.

Police received a series of emails from people who saw an image of the shirt online.

The court heard how members of the public wrote they were “absolutely devastated” and “disgusted” by it.

Diane Lynn, vice chair of Hillsborough Survivor Supporters Alliance, said it was “very personal” for people who were at Hillsborough that day and that survivors suffered with “guilt”.

“How dare he make us feel like this,” she said.

The defence told the court White “deeply regrets” his actions and accepted he “hurt people very deeply”.

White, who laughed in the dock, was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £400 and £85 in costs.

He has also been banned from all regulated football games in the UK for four years, while Manchester United said it had issued an indefinite club ban to White.

A Manchester United spokesman said: “The club’s ban goes further with the immediately imposed three-year suspension being extended to an indefinite ban from all club activities including all matches at Old Trafford.

“Mockery of Hillsborough and other football tragedies is completely unacceptable and the club will continue to support firm action to eradicate it from the game.”

The FA said in a statement it “welcomed” the sentence, adding White’s actions were “reprehensible”, and “abuse that references Hillsborough or any football tragedy will not be tolerated at Wembley Stadium”.

“We hope that today’s ruling sends a strong message that action will be taken against any perpetrators who behave in this way.”

Douglas Mackay from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “The CPS continues to work closely with the football authorities including the Premier League and the Football Association, police, clubs, and charities to look to stamp out all of the appalling and horrendous incidents of tragedy chanting and gesturing.

“We are sending a clear message that we call on so-called fans to stop this vile behaviour of a minority which has a terrible impact on the bereaved and communities.”

Manchester City won the FA Cup beating local rivals Manchester United 2-1.

BBC News

Ben Styles, of Leamington Spa, was reportedly fascinated by the perpetrator of the New Zealand mosque attack

A supporter of extreme right-wing ideology will be sentenced this month after admitting making weapons and collecting terrorism material, police say. Ben Styles, of Plymouth Place in Leamington Spa, was arrested in April 2021 by detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing.

A jury at Birmingham Crown Court heard recently that the 25-year-old had acquired various tools, including a lathe and a drill press, and was reportedly making a gun at the time detectives arrested and searched his home. He was acquitted of engaging in conduct in preparation for a terrorist act at court earlier today (June 15).

Prosecutor Matthew Brooks detailed how Styles had travelled to New Zealand shortly before the mosque attack in Christchurch in 2019 but he became fascinated by the attacker, allegedly collecting his manifesto and a video of the massacre according to West Midlands Police. The force added that at an earlier legal hearing in November 2021, Styles admitted three counts of collecting information contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2006 (right wing material and instructional firearms documents).

He also admitted one count of possessing a prohibited weapon. Detective Superintendent Anastasia Miller, from CTP West Midlands CTU, said: “Styles’ was making a submachine gun and ammunition, he also knowingly downloaded and possessed extremely distressing and disturbing imagery.

“We will continue to protect local communities by working with partners and the CPS to pursue and prosecute all those who show support for terrorism. We work tirelessly to counter terrorism.

“Our absolute priority is to ensure the safety and security of the people who live, work and visit the West Midlands area.”

Assistant Chief Constable David Gardner, counter terrorism lead for Warwickshire Police, said: “The evidence in this case was extremely concerning and clearly demonstrated Styles has an obsession with far right wing ideologies. It is vital we all remain vigilant and people report any concerns they have to police.”

Styles will be sentenced on Friday, June 23.

Birmingham Mail

Harry Vaughan had developed an interest in right-wing extremism, Satanism, the occult and violence from the age of 14, the Old Bailey heard.

Undated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of Harry Vaughan who was spared jail in 2020 after admitting 14 terrorism offences and two child abuse image offences.
(PA Media)

Harry Vaughan, from Twickenham, south-west London, was aged 18 when he admitting 14 terror offences and two of possessing indecent images of children.

The Old Bailey had heard he developed an interest in right wing extremism, Satanism, the occult, and violence after disappearing “down a rabbit hole of the internet” from the age of 14.

Sentencing him in November 2020, Mr Justice Sweeney acknowledged the A-star student’s parents were committed to helping him “change for the better”.

The senior judge handed Vaughan a two-year suspended sentence along with a 60-day rehabilitation order and a terrorist notification order for 10 years.

On Wednesday, 21-year-old Vaughan, who now goes by the name of Harry Blake, returned to the Old Bailey and pleaded guilty to making an indecent photograph of a child in September 2022.

He had also admitted three charges of possessing extreme pornographic videos, three counts of failing to comply with a Serious Crime Prevention Order and three breaches of his notification order.

The breaches which began just a month after his original sentence related to failing to tell authorities about an email address and details of crypocurrentcy accounts.

Judge Sarah Munro KC adjourned sentencing until July 21 and remanded the defendant in custody.

In 2020, prosecutor Dan Pawson-Pounds had said the defendant was “considered a focused and able” student at Tiffin Grammar in Kingston-upon-Thames, south-west London.

He was arrested at his family home on June 19 2019 in a counter-terror probe into Fascist Forge – an online forum used by extreme, right-wing militants.

In a March 2018 application to join the System Resistance Network – an alias of the banned neo-Nazi group National Action – he wrote: “I could handle myself in a fight. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to further the cause.”

Police found 4,200 images and 302 files, including an extreme, right-wing terrorist book and documents relating to Satanism, neo-Nazism and antisemitism, on his computer and other devices.

Files included graphics encouraging acts of terrorism in the name of the proscribed terror organisation Sonnenkrieg Division, a guide to killing people, and bomb-making manuals.

Mr Pawson-Pounds said Vaughan had also looked on Google maps for the locations of schools near his home and searched for explosives and plastic pipes.

He said: “The material demonstrated unequivocally that Vaughan had an entrenched extreme right-wing and racist mindset, as well as an interest in explosives, firearms and violence more generally.

“He also demonstrated an interest in the occult and Satanism.”

The court was also told that the defendant’s “loving” parents had been left with a “sense of bewilderment” at his arrest of their son, who went on to be diagnosed with high-functioning autism.

Defence barrister Naeem Mian KC had said: “He is somebody who has disappeared down a rabbit hole, a rabbit hole of the internet, and he is in a very, very dark place, or certainly was. And he was there, it would appear, from the age of about 14.”

Vaughan had originally pleaded guilty to one count of encouragement of terrorism, one count of disseminating a terrorist publication, 12 counts of possessing a document containing information of a kind likely to be of use to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism, and two counts of making an indecent photograph of a child.
The Independent

Police say Richard Osborne, from Marston Green, admitted he held “extreme far right views” and supported a banned far-right terrorism group

A Solihull man who admitted posting material online to stir up racial hatred, as well as supporting a banned far-right banned terrorism group online, has been jailed.

Richard Osborne, from Marston Green, received a three year and 10 months sentence for two counts of publishing material intended to provoke racial hatred and homophobia, according to West Midlands Police.

Police say that from 2021 and up to his arrest in January this year, the 53-year-old had used social media to post material which “strongly indicated” his support of white supremacy and neo-Nazi views. Following his arrest, officers searched his property and found a baton in his car which had been adapted from a metal bar.

He was charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and with possession without a license after a shotgun was found under a bed at his home.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police added Osborne pleaded guilty to all the offences at a court appearance last month before he was jailed today, June 12. Detective Superintendent Anastasia Miller, from CTP West Midlands CTU, said: “By pleading guilty, Osborne admitted he held extreme far right views and through our investigation we were able to provide clear evidence he supported white supremacists as well as a proscribed far right group banned by the government.

“Someone who holds extreme views against those that don’t look like him or hold the same views is not welcome in our society. Today’s sentence should be a clear message to those who intend to spread hate and terror, we will continue to work with partners and the CPS to protect our communities by pursuing and prosecuting such individuals.

“We work tirelessly to counter terrorism. Our absolute priority is to ensure the safety and security of the people who live, work and visit the West Midlands area.”

Birmingham Mail

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