Nine defendants will appear back before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday to learn their sentencing fate

A man told police officers they have a “s*** firm” while threatening to burn down a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Footage of Christopher Shelley, 45, was played today in Liverpool Crown Court where he appeared to be sentenced for violent disorder following the ugly scenes outside the Kirkby hotel on February 10 last year. The initially peaceful protest against the housing of asylum seekers in the hotel turned violent when a crowd of between 250 and 300 people threw bricks and bottles at police officers and set fire to a police vehicle.

Shelley was among nine defendants due to be sentenced for their roles in the violent disorder. However, Shelley failed to appear to court today, Friday, March 15 with presiding judge Denis Watson KC issuing a bench warrant for his arrest. However, the sentencing, which is due to conclude on Monday, March 18 continued in the absence of Shelley.

Martyn Walsh, prosecuting, showed the court video footage of Shelley shouting “‘we are going to burn that hotel to the ground and smash their f***ing heads in”. Shelley continued: “My name is Chris Shelley and I don’t give a f***, lets f***ing have it, fucking d********, s***house c****. Let’s f***ing have it, I’ve been waiting 20 years for this, rapist b******”.”

Shelley was then heard shouting to the police: “First person you grab, it’s going off. We’re waiting for yous, I’ll take you out. Yous have a s*** firm. That dog, let it off, I’ll kick its head in. ISIS rapists, I’ll do 20 years in Walton, I’m not arsed.”

Mr Walsh said that Merseyside Police had initially received reports “which stated that members of the English Defence League were going to attend” the hotel on Ribblers Lane, which was “housing refugees and immigrants”.

The initially peaceful protests turned violent when a line of police officers were forced back when members of the crowd threw glass bottles which resulted in a riot van being left unguarded. Mr Walsh said: “The police were faced with hostility and violence while the crowd forced its way through a cordon. The police then fell back into a stronger, more enforced cordon.

“Because of the escalating crowds and level of violence, they put on their protective gear. At this point in the evening, officers were bombarded with various missiles, for example rocks and bottles. There was an officer injured by a concrete slab. The crown would submit that fireworks were being directed towards the police.”

Mr Walsh said very few arrests were made on the night. He said: “A number of five police vehicles were damaged over the course of the evening. The police carrier was completely burnt out. The costs to repair were £83,686. The disorder continued and fireworks were aimed at officers. Several officers were injured and one required hospital treatment.”

Mr Walsh said “a majority of the evidence” against those who were put before the courts came from footage obtained by a police drone, body worn camera footage of the PCs who attended the scene and “evidence gathering officers” who were “tasked with recording events”.

Four men – Thomas Mills, 47, Brian McPadden, 61, Paul Lafferty, 42, Jonjo O’Donoghue, 21 – were found guilty of violent disorder by a jury in January this year for their roles in the incident. Shelley, Liam Jones, 25, Harry Boynton, 20, John Tippler, 59, and Warren Cullen, 21 had already pleaded guilty to the same charge. Jones and Shelley pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court in July 2023, while the other three men pleaded guilty at magistrates’ court at an earlier date.

Today’s sentencing heard Cullen could be clearly seen throwing missiles at police officers, while “aggressive” Tippler chanted “send the f****** back” and pushed at the police cordon. Boynton was seen “striking the windscreen of a police vehicle” with a metal pole stolen from officers, while Jones threw “an object” at officers after he was pushed.

Footage of McPadden showed him shouting “we protect our own, you are not from Kirkby, these are t****. They’re hiding behind the f***ing curtains watching us now. Cheeky b*******” towards the police and the asylum seekers inside the hotel. Mills climbed onto the burnt out police vehicle holding a banner which said “let’s shout get them out”.

Lafferty was heard shouting at police officers “you f***ng bullies, you are provoking the violence” and O’Donoghue was seen lighting fireworks and firing them towards officers.

All of the defendants were told they could face “immediate custody” and were remanded in custody over the weekend. The representation of all the defendants offered mitigation for their clients, except Shelley, whose mitigation will be presented to the court on Monday morning.

Mills, of Park Brow Drive, Kirkby; Lafferty, of Quarry Green, Kirkby; McPadden, of Britonside Avenue, Kirkby; O’Donoghue, of Stanley Street, Liverpool city centre; Tippler, of St Kevin’s Drive, Northwood; Shelley, of Delfby Crescent, Southdene; Cullen, of James Holt Avenue, Kirkby; Boynton, of Sherdley Walk, Kirkby and Liam Jones, of Birkin Close, Kirkby will learn their fate on Monday morning at Liverpool Crown Court.

Liverpool Echo

Sentencing Harry Parris to two years and nine months in prison, the judge said the defendant had become isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic and had become exposed to extremist views online.

Harry Parris pleaded guilty to four offences of encouraging terrorism. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing South East/PA

Harry Parris, 22, had pleaded guilty to four offences of encouraging terrorism on the basis he was “reckless” in relation to posts and videos posted online between 2019 and 2021.

He also admitted six offences of having documents likely to be useful to a person preparing acts of terrorism.

Sentencing Parris to two years and nine months at Winchester Crown Court, Judge Jane Miller KC said the defendant, who had been diagnosed with ADHD, had become isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic and had become exposed to extremist views online.

Judge Miller said he had joined an “extreme right-wing organisation actively promoting a violent national socialist ideology including political terror and in particular the murder of Jewish people but also other non-white groups and politicians”.

She added he was a member of other Telegram groups “dedicated to promoting neo-Nazi content and sharing incitements to violence”.

Parris, of Bittaford, near Plymouth in Devon, had also become the administrator of a Telegram channel which Judge Miller said included posts that were “explicitly racist and some of which could be seen as a direct call for action”.

She added: “You insulted many sections of society including Jews, Christians, black people, Africans, gypsies, and those from east Asia.

“You glorified the Nazis suggesting all Jews and gypsies should be exterminated.”

Parris also posted an image of himself doing the Nazi salute and posted “deeply offensive videos,” the court heard.

The defendant was sentenced to serve a further year on licence at the completion of his custodial sentence.

Sky News

A far-right activist has been jailed after a judge branded him an “antisemite” with “Nazi sympathies”.

Samuel Melia, 34, was found guilty earlier this year of inciting racial hatred after a series of “stickering” incidents between 2019 and 2021.

Melia, from Pudsey in West Yorkshire, was sentenced to two years in prison at Leeds Crown Court on Friday.

Judge Tom Bayliss KC said: “The publication of this kind of material is corrosive to our society.”

Melia was the head of the Telegram Messenger group Hundred Handers, a social media channel that generated racist and anti-immigration stickers that were printed off and displayed in public places.

The stickers contained “ethnic slurs” about minority communities which displayed a “deep-seated antipathy to those groups”, the court heard.

‘Nationalistic and vitriolic’

The court also heard Melia had an “obsessive interest” in Sir Oswald Mosley, who founded the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s, and that he was attempting to “peddle the same antisemitism”.

Melia had a poster of Hitler in his garage, a book by Mosley in his bedroom and it was found that much of the material Hundred Handers published was “xenophobic, nationalistic and vitriolic”.

Judge Bayliss said: “For the first time since the 1930s, a real risk of gross, potentially violent, antisemitism is becoming normalised on our streets.

“It has been used before to tear at the heart of Western democracy.

“It must not be allowed to do so again.”

After police arrested Melia in April 2021, they searched his house and found a label printer and stickers with anti-immigration messages.

The court previously heard the Hundred Handers Telegram channel had more than 3,500 subscribers and an anti-immigration sticker was even placed on the door of an MP’s constituency office.

It was also said that media reports of the “stickering” linked to the group “extended from Cornwall to Northern Ireland”.

‘You are an antisemite’

The judge told Melia: “I am quite sure that your mindset is that of a racist and a white supremacist.

“You hold Nazi sympathies and you are an antisemite.”

Melia, who was also found guilty of encouraging racially-aggravated criminal damage, was sentenced to two years for each charge to run concurrently.

He must serve up to half his sentence in custody before being released on licence.

Det Ch Sup James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “Those that seek to bring hatred to our communities through actions such as stickering will be identified and brought to justice.”

BBC News

.A man who “wanted to kill 50 people” in a bombing campaign has been found guilty of terrorism offences after a trial.

Jacob Graham, now 20, was cleared of planning a terrorist attack but convicted of seven other offences, including preparing an act of terrorism and disseminating terrorist material.

Graham, from Norris Green, Liverpool, acquired and hid materials to make explosive substances, the court heard.

He will be sentenced on March 18.

‘Hatred and contempt’

Annabel Darlow, KC, prosecuting, had said Graham was motivated by a “hatred and contempt” for government.

During the trial, jurors were shown some of the lengthy 105 home videos that Graham recorded himself in his bedroom.

The court was also told he intended to assist another with the construction of a document entitled “Freedom Encyclopedia”.

That was a manual filled with instructions on how to build weapons, including shotguns, nail bombs, explosives including gunpowder and plastic explosive; ignition devices and instructions on how to evade the police.

The manifesto described itself a written for “misfits, social nobodies, anarchists and terrorists” and the prosecution argued he wanted to assist others in committing their own acts of terrorism.

The court also heard how Graham had sent documents on construction of explosives and a home-made submachine gun to online contacts.

Ms Darlow, opening the case for the prosecution, had told the jury: “Mr Graham expressed the aim of killing and injuring at least 50 people and said that any more than this number would be ‘a blessing’.”

The court heard that the defendant began work on a document in May 2022, setting out his plans to prepare for a bombing campaign, and said he would end his violence by carrying out a shooting.

He claimed he wanted to finish what Theodore Kaczynski, the notorious US terrorist known as the “Unabomber”, had started, the court was told.

Graham was arrested on 26 May, 2023, at his family home where police found chemicals capable of being used as ingredients for explosives.

Counter Terrorism officers found a 3D printer, which the prosecution said could be used to print parts of home-made firearms.

Police also found an “online arsenal” of information on his computer devices, containing information on the manufacture of deadly weapons and explosives, many of which could be made at home, with basic skills, using materials or ingredients that could be got hold of relatively easily.

Graham had also carried out “experiments” on low explosive devices, some of which he filmed.

Six weeks before his arrest, he packed a stash of chemicals and buried them in woodland near the coast at Formby, the jury was told.

Analysis of his online history found Graham, behind the moniker “Destro” or “Destro the Destroyer”, had been in contact with other “like-minded” individuals, sending manuals and electronic books and sharing tips on guns, bombs and poisons.

The jury heard that although he talked about bombing Liverpool, he had not finalised his plans or selected a specific target.

He was found of guilty of engaging in conduct in preparation for a terrorist act, four counts of possessing terrorist material, and two of disseminating or circulating a terrorist publication.

Graham was remanded in custody ahead of sentence.

Superintendent Andy Meeks, of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: “Online extremism is a growing threat and this case sadly is a prime example; where a young man from Merseyside has become radicalised online, without ever having left his bedroom.”

BBC News

Thomas Allan has strong links to the Hendon area of Sunderland

Police have issued an appeal to locate a wanted criminal who is wanted on prison recall.

Thomas Allan, 38, is understood to be actively evading arrest, with extensive searches to locate him ongoing across the North East. Allan, who also goes by the name Tommy, has strong links to the Hendon area of Sunderland.

Officers from Northumbria Police have issued an appeal today (Thursday, February 22) asking for the public’s help to trace him. They have urged anyone with information to come forward.

The police force issued a reminder to the public that harbouring a wanted person is an offence and those involved could face prosecution. They also asked that Allan, or anyone who believes they have seen him, contact police as soon as possible by using the ‘Report’ tool of the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101, quoting reference 0438791.

Members of the public can also report information anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website.

Chronicle Live

Ryan Ferguson was detained by security staff after shouting the racist abuse

CCTV shows the moment a football player was racially abused by a supporter – who has now been jailed.

Ryan Ferguson, 24, shouted racial abuse at Forest Green Rovers winger Jordon Garrick during a match last year. Ferguson, a Tranmere Rovers fan who was subject to a five year football banning order, attended the New Lawn ground after receiving a complimentary ticket.

Around 35 minutes into the first half of the game, Forest Green Rovers were awarded a throw in by the West Stand corner of the pitch. The referee came over to speak to the players and there was a moment of silence and Ferguson moved close to the edge of the pitch and shouted racial abuse.

The CCTV video showed Ferguson shouting “fill that f****** **** in” and was quickly led away by a security guard while onlookers watched on. The abuse was heard by a number of players on the pitch who reacted – as well as by club security personnel and others in the stand.

Ferguson was detained by club security and later handed over to police officers outside of the ground. Lout Ryan, of Barberry Crescent, Netherton, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court for sentencing.

It followed a previous guilty plea to racially aggravated public order, being a football spectator failing to comply with a football banning order under the Football Spectators Act 1989 and obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.

The offences took place during a Forest Green Rovers match against Fleetwood Town at The New Lawn in Nailsworth on the evening of Tuesday, April 18 last year. When questioned by officers, he gave them incorrect details and would not confirm his identity – it was only after arrest that he gave the correct details.

In a written victim impact statement Jordon Garrick said: “Forest Green Rovers Football Club and the Bolt New Lawn Stadium is my place of work, when I am on the pitch as a player, I am at work. I understand there will always be a crowd in the stands watching me and my teammates play.

“I am aware that fans will vocally express their enjoyment or disappointment at a football match, but I should never have to be subjected to racially offensive verbal abuse while at work.

“I find this type of abuse grossly offensive. I was shocked at the disgusting language used against me, these are words that no-one should ever hear.”

Ferguson, who has already been convicted for breaching a football banning order seven times and has past convictions for racially aggravated public order offences, was sentenced to nine months in prison.

He also received a further football banning order imposed for six years with the following conditions:

On the day of a regulated football match, not to come with 500 metres of any designated football stadium, where such a match is being held, during the period starting four hours before kick-off and finishing four hours after the game has concluded.

Not to travel to any town or city where Tranmere Rovers are playing a regulated football match during the period starting four hours before kick-off and finishing four hours after the game has concluded.

On the day of a regulated football match where Tranmere Rovers are playing not to come within one mile of the designated football stadium where they are playing during the period starting four hours before kick-off and finishing four hours after the game has concluded.

Not to travel to, enter or be present within the boundaries of any town or city where England are playing an international football match during the period starting four hours before kick-off and finishing four hours after the game has concluded.

The subject of the football banning order, who currently possesses a valid British passport, must inform, in writing, the HM Passport Office, whenever they are unable to surrender their passport as required by the enforcing authority (within the terms of the order) due to the document being unavailable (lost or stolen).

Following sentencing PC Adrian Tuft, a dedicated Football Officer at Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “Ferguson is a persistent football offender, this is not the first time that he has breached his banning order.

“On this occasion Ferguson breached his order using horrendous racial abuse which was clearly heard by the intended victim and a number of his teammates. Clearly Ferguson cannot be trusted inside a football ground or its immediate vicinity on a match day.

“We would encourage all football supporters to report any racial, homophobic or other hateful abuse to the club, to The FA, Kick It Out, or the police. As a Force we treat these reports with the utmost seriousness and will work closely with the clubs, the FA and the UK Football Policing Unit to identify any suspects and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.”

Ryan Ferguson has been jailed for nine months

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, NPCC Lead for Football Policing, said: “Racist abuse will not be tolerated in football stadiums, and I’m pleased the court has recognised the seriousness of these offences and issued a prison sentence in this case.

“We can see from Jordon Garrick’s statement the impact this abuse has had on him. No-one should ever have to experience this, not least at their place of work. Breaching a football banning order is also a serious offence, and I’m pleased to see that a further six-year order has been issued in this case.

“We collectively need to make football a safe environment for the overwhelming majority of fans want to enjoy the game, and anyone who commits a criminal offence either outside or inside a football ground can expect to face the consequences of their actions.”

A spokesperson for Forest Green Rovers added: “Forest Green Rovers FC, along with every other football club, deplore the use of racist abuse and language which has no place in our game or our society. Nobody should be subjected to the racist abuse that our player Jordon Garrick was back in April and we welcome the sentencing administered by the court.

“We sincerely hope that this sends a strong message to the individual involved in this case and those persons that share a similar view that this behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Anyone who sees, reads or hears offensive, racist, or homophobic language at a football game is asked to report it to a steward or police officer. Alternatively you can report this online here.

Liverpool Echo

A Leeds man left his friend needing a wheelchair after breaking his leg in a drunken scuffle, after accusing the victim of “ruining his birthday”.

Paul Leeming, 56, was sentenced today for causing grievous bodily harm – which left the victim in “unbearable pain” and needing surgery after the assault.

On August 13, 2020, the victim invited Leeming over to his home for a drink after finding out it was the defendant’s birthday. Leeming arrived at the property in Leeds at 7.30am, bringing with him a bottle of brandy. Cocaine was delivered to the house an hour later.

They invited another female friend over to the house and the three drank together. Prosecuting, Graham O’Sullivan said the mood was “initially good”, but at 12.30pm the defendant said he wanted to buy more cocaine and left the house to withdraw money.

When he returned three hours later, his mood appeared to have changed – he was very loud and accused the victim of “ruining his birthday”, Mr O’Sullivan said. His friends told Leeming to leave the property but they suspected he was still inside and eavesdropping outside the living room.

After around five minutes, the victim opened the living room door and Leeming barged past him into the room. Leeming started shouting at the woman and threatening her, accusing the pair of talking about him. Leeds Crown Court heard that he then punched her to the side of his head and face – although he was never charged for an attack on the woman.

The man tried to reason with Leeming and jumped on his back in an attempt to restrain him. The victim fell to the floor and badly broke his leg during the scuffle. The woman called the police and Leeming was arrested. He refused to answer questions during police interviews.

Mr O’Sullivan read out a victim impact statement from the man, who had to have surgery and was left needing a wheelchair while he learned to walk again. The victim said the pain “was unbearable and difficult to manage”. He added that after seeing his injury for the first time, he broke down in tears.

Leeming, of Seacroft Gate, Leeds, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on the day a trial was due to begin. He has 10 previous convictions for 21 offences, but none since 2008.

Mitigating for Leeming, Natalie Banks said the attack was “undoubtedly an impulsive and spontaneous assault and short lived” and that the defendant suffered from mental health issues. She added that Leeming was living in secure accommodation, where he helped out elderly residents, and had a number of pets which he cares for – fish, cats and a bearded dragon.

“He’s very anxious about what would happen to those if he went into custody,” Ms Banks added.

entencing Leeming, the judge, Recorder Jeremy Hill-Baker, said: “I’m satisfied from what I heard that you did not deliberately cause that injury, but it was caused when you shrugged him off, being reckless as to whether he was going to get injured or not.”

Leeming was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, and required to complete 20 days rehabilitation activity.

Yorkshire Evening Post

An Andrew Tate “admirer” has been jailed after telling his friend he wanted to walk into university one day “in full military-style get-up to shoot everyone for the lols”.

Nicholas Rees, who was arrested while lying next to a gun on his bed, had been hoarding chemicals and air rifles in his room at Oxley Hall, in Weetwood, Leeds.

The 26-year-old was found guilty of making and having an explosive substance and possession of a bladed article after a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Rees had been completing a Master’s degree in international business at Leeds Trinity University, but he “showed a resentment to other students, females in particular”.

The court heard Rees was an admirer of controversial social media personality Andrew Tate, and he would talk about women in a “misogynistic way” if encounters with them “didn’t turn out to his satisfaction”.

Rees had ADHD, for which he was prescribed diazepam, but the court heard there was “evidence he wasn’t taking it, because he was selling it to others”.

Gerry Hendron, prosecuting, said: “He was aggrieved by others, [students], females, the doctors not medicating him, people in authority, and the police.

“On the 13th February 2023, he was arrested under suspicion of possession of a firearm – a starting pistol – and ammunition.”

The court heard Rees had also obtained chemicals which could be constituents in an explosive substance and camouflage.

Mr Hendron added: “It was apparent in the trial that the months, weeks and days before his final arrest gave rise to suspicion that they did not have a lawful purpose.”

The prosecutor told the court that the items found were “mainly to attack students on campus or the police” and that Rees was “exhibiting worrying behaviour to others”.

He added: “Reports were made to management about him from other students.

“By February 2023, he was seen to be carrying what appeared to be a firearm in the communal areas of the halls. As a result a report was made to the police.”

On 13 February last year, Rees went to his GP surgery and asked to speak to the practice manager after sending a complaint form referring to a failure to prescribe his medication, resulting in PTSD.Mr Hendron said: “The defendant told the practice manager about his medication and said he needed diazepam. He said without it, his mind went into dark places and he referred to himself going on ‘one last outing’ and ‘doing something serious.’

“She took this to mean a shooting spree or a bomb and this made her extremely anxious. He showed the practice manager searches of how to make body armour.

“He said he didn’t want to do these things, but without the diazepam he would.”The court heard that in a separate incident, in a chain of messages to his friend, Rees showed her “what he had been making” and said he was hoping to get a ballistic face mask.

Mr Hendron said: “When asked why, he said: ‘For walking into uni one day in full military-style get-up to shoot everyone for the lols.'”Rees was arrested in February last year and police seized the pistol and cartridges he was carrying at the time. He was interviewed and released on bail under caution.The court heard that Rees believed a female student who he was attracted to had made the police report and he approached her “saying he had a gift for her.”

Mr Hendron said: “He gave her a noose made out of yarn and said to her in Polish: ‘Go hang yourself you stupid b***h.’

“[Internet] searches found he had been searching similar words in Polish. He began using body armour around the halls and began talking about replica guns.

“The defendant had made requests with maintenance staff at the halls to borrow their drills and told students it was for drilling out a replica gun to make it a real firearm.”

It was said that over the coming months, before his final arrest in May last year, Rees made two visits to two separate shooting clubs, where he concerned members with his behaviour.

The court heard that at the Yorkshire Shooting Club, a member observed him carrying a rifle bag which contained a “large combat knife.”

Mr Hendron said: “He said it was against the law to carry them in a bag. Rees explained they were not real and just for display.”

Rees was arrested following two “concerning” phone calls he had with a West Yorkshire Police Detective Constable on 10 May last year. The court heard he had asked about his bail and when it had come to an end.

Mr Hendron said: “He told the officer he had been in touch with local news outlets about how badly he had been treated by the police. He said if the police did anything to him again he would be acting in self-defence.”

Rees said he would give officers “three warnings to him alone or in self-defence he would use weapons.”

He also said he would give three warnings to staff members at his halls of residence if they carried out spot checks in his room, which they were allowed to do.

Mr Hendron said: “He was advised that if he didn’t want people to go into his room he should tell them and call the police and not use violence against them. He became irate and began shouting.

“The officer put the phone down on him and called him a short time later.”

During the second phone call, the court heard Rees spoke about what chemicals are legal to possess.

The officer made a referral to the counter-terrorism department and the next day officers attended Oxley Hall and detained another man before arresting Rees, who was laying on his bed next to an assault rifle.

Mr Hendron said that as Rees was taken to custody, he asked watching students: “Are you enjoying the show?”

A search of his room found various materials and chemicals including sulphur, a copper pipe, magnesium and iron oxide.

Mr Hendron said: “Evidence from a friend said that on the day of the arrest, the defendant jumped out at him dressed in camo clothing. He told him that he wanted to harm the police.

“Another witness – a flatmate – said he heard the defendant talking about making bombs.”

The court heard that Rees had a previous conviction from when he was a youth for possession of a bladed article and common assault.

It was said that psychiatric evidence concluded that he has a mixed personality disorder, ADHD and “mental and behavioural disorders due to multiple drug misuse.”He had also spent time in the care system as a teenager.Ryan Donoghue, mitigating, said Rees maintains he had a lawful purpose for the materials.

Mr Donoghue told the judge: “It will be apparent to you that he is an individual with a very complex mental health history. He was biologically predisposed – his mum having been diagnosed with very similar conditions. He wasn’t given support or help until more recently.

“He was bullied for a long period of time and spent time in the care system, with his mental health diagnosis of ADHD causing difficulties during school.”

Mr Donoghue said Rees had lost both his stepdad and friend, which had a significant effect on him. He added that he is no longer using illicit substances but was “still having thoughts of self-harm around the time of the events that led to his conviction.”

Mr Donoghue said: “He is relatively still a young man with most of his life ahead of him. While he maintains his innocence to the charges he faces he is not someone completely devoid of insight into his conduct. His ideas are ultimately a fantasy.”His Honour Judge Khan KC jailed Rees for six years and told him: “What you did was acquire explosive substances and other chemicals with a view to cause harm to others.”

ITV News

Ryan Ferguson shouted at Forest Green Rovers’ Jordan Garrick as the forward tussled with a Fleetwood Town opponent

Ryan Ferguson has been jailed for nine months

A football thug has been jailed after shouting vile racist abuse at a rival player.

Ryan Ferguson cried “fill that f****** **** in” as Forest Green Rovers’ forward Jordan Garrick tussled with a Fleetwood Town opponent during a League One match in April last year. The 24-year-old with “immature and outdated” was heard by other Forest Green players and stewards at the New Lawn.

A court heard how he was quickly apprehended by security and, when he was arrested by the police, gave officers false details. The Tranmere Rovers supporter only admitted his real identity after he was arrested.

A check of the police national computer revealed Ferguson was subject of a five-year football banning order imposed in 2019 for pitch invasion and was prohibited from attending any matches at the time of the incident, the ECHO reports. A prosecutor previously told the courts that Garrick was left shaken at being on the receiving end of the abuse.

Ferguson’s defence argued that he had “grown up in an environment where he got into football at a very young age”. He said: “He has been involved with this particular group of Tranmere Rovers fans who hold some quite anti-social views.

“People just don’t become racist, and it seems he has learnt over time while growing up. For some reason he thinks this is normal and acceptable behaviour. It’s not.”

Due to the severity of the incident, the case could not be dealt with at the magistrates’ court – and Ferguson was sent to Gloucestershire Crown Court. Ferguson, of Barberry Crescent, Netherton, was yesterday (February 8) jailed for nine months.

Douglas Mackay, the Crown Prosecution Service Sports National lead prosecutor, said: “Ferguson’s actions were vile and something that none of us should ever experience at a football match – whether that be fans, staff, police or indeed the players themselves.

“The sentence that has been passed today should serve as a wake-up call to any fans who think it might be acceptable to break the law during matches.”

The Black Footballers Partnership (BFP), the organisation set up to be a strategic voice and support for black footballers, said the sentence shows the game needs to do better to support black players. Delroy Corinaldi, BFP executive director, said: “Black excellence on the pitch has driven up participation numbers and lessened the amount of overtly racist chanting on the terraces, so that events like those discussed today stand out more.

“However, while black excellence on the pitch pushes the overt racists to the margins, the ignorance it personifies can only be excised when black footballers become visible as black managers, coaches, board members and owners. It ends when the clubs and their representative bodies properly tackle the institutional barriers to black success off the pitch.”

Lancashire Live

Kieran Turner hailed the terrorist killer as a ‘hero’

An Army veteran who encouraged terrorism by glorifying the murderer of MP Jo Cox has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Kieran Turner, 37, of Earby, Lancashire, published a statement in January 2019 calling for “650 Thomas Mair’s” (sic) and hailing the terrorist killer as a “hero”.

He also reposted still images of the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand and attempted to share live-streamed video footage taken by the perpetrator.

Joe Allman, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court the case arose out of the defendant’s activities on the Gab online platform where he described himself as “British Army veteran English Nationalist”.

Turner had an “impressionable audience” of 773 followers on his publicly accessible account and he in turn followed 213 users, the court was told.

His criminality was uncovered when officers examined a Samsung tablet discovered under his bed when he was arrested at his home in Earlesdown Avenue in November 2021, said Mr Allman.

The prosecutor said Turner used the platform to share and re-share material which expressed “virulent” misogynistic, homophobic and transphobic views, as well as displaying extreme racism, Islamophobia and “deep hostility” towards Jewish people.

Mr Allman said the comment about the Batley and Spen MP’s murder in June 2016 was made in reply to a post from another platform user and included a reference to the number of members of Parliament and the hashtag “ThomasMairHero”.

Turner had also reposted a link to the Christchurch mass murderer’s “manifesto”. Commenting on the video footage the defendant wrote: “Cheers. Just the thing to put a smile on my face before heading to work this morning.”

In another post, he said: “It should be on repeat on ITV every couple of hours instead of Jeremy Kyle.”

Mr Allman said the Crown did not accept Turner’s explanation that his postings were intended to be humorous.

Turner pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of encouraging terrorism, two counts of disseminating terrorist publications and seven counts of stirring up racial hatred between January 2019 and September 2020.

On Thursday, Turner received an extended sentence and must serve two years and eight months in custody followed by a period of 12 months on extended licence.

Judge Alan Conrad KC told him: “I find you were at least reckless as to whether other people would act on your opinions. The danger in these cases is that there is a risk that one person could act on these posts with terrible consequences.”

He noted that Turner, who had no previous convictions, was more prone to radicalisation because of his diagnosed autism spectrum disorder.

Sarah Day, defending, said Turner had features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following his time in the armed forces and had also suffered from depression.

She said: “He very much now recognises what he has done and is genuinely ashamed and remorseful for it.

“It is quite clear that he has taken steps to move himself away from that behaviour and that mindset.”

The Independent