An alleged right-wing extremist has denied a terrorist plot to kill a solicitor in north-west London.

Cavan Medlock is alleged to have arrived at the Duncan Lewis law firm in Harrow on 7 September 2020.

The Old Bailey heard Mr Medlock was allegedly armed with a knife and handcuffs, while carrying a Confederate flag and a Nazi flag.

The 29-year-old pleaded not guilty to six charges against him including preparation of terrorist acts.

Mr Medlock denied a separate charge of making a threat to kill solicitor Toufique Hossain.

He pleaded guilty to four other offences relating to three other staff members.

Mr Medlock, from Harrow, admitted battery and threatening the receptionist with a knife and causing racially aggravated alarm, harassment or distress to the two other employees.

He is also alleged to have abused two other members of staff because of their racial or religious background.

Prosecutors allege Mr Medlock is an extreme right-wing terrorist who planned to kill the solicitor because he objected to his involvement in preventing the Government deporting immigrants.

Mr Justice Wall set a two-week trial for 11 July next year at Kingston Crown Court.

BBC News

Matthew Henegan earlier attended court wearing a swastika armband and was ordered to remove it by a judge

A Cambridgeshire neo-Nazi coronavirus conspiracy theorist spread antisemitic hoax theories and referred to himself as a National Socialist.

Matthew Henegan, 36, has been found guilty of stirring up racial hatred on the internet and also in leaflets posted to residents of St Neots at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March last year.

He also repeatedly used a “grossly offensive” term for Jewish people and falsely claimed they controlled the news about coronavirus.

Cambridgeshire Police became aware of the material in mid-March last year after residents reported receiving “offensive and antisemitic” leaflets through their doors.

Links were found in the documents to racially inflammatory video and audio files posted by Henegan online.

Police searched Henegan’s home and seized a large stash of leaflets, a homemade swastika and swastika armband, reports PA.

‘Coronavirus Hoax supplement’ was one document which Henegan posted online on March 9 last year and viewed 95 times.

Antisemitic themes and admiration for Adolf Hitler were found in the material, the Old Bailey was told.

Another document appeared online two days later suggesting that the Fishmongers’ Hall terror attack, in which two innocent people were killed, was “set up” by a propaganda machine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was also claimed to be Jewish but being “passed off” as English, the jury was told.

The author of the document referred to himself as a National Socialist, the court heard.

On March 13 last year, a three-hour video entitled “Corona Virus Hoax” was posted on the same website.

Henegan talked into the camera in the clip and encouraged people to deny any coronavirus curfew.

Henegan, from St Neots, denied possessing, distributing and publishing documents inciting racial hatred and possessing a terrorist document.

He also denied possessing a document about how to make armour-piercing ammunition that was likely to be useful to a terrorist.

Giving evidence, Henegan, who has Asperger’s syndrome, said it was not his intention to stir up racial hatred.

The unemployed defendant, who lived with his mother, told jurors he was interested in historical research, particularly Germany’s role in the Second World War.

He rejected the “commonly-held view” that Hitler began the war and also that six million Jewish people died at the hands of German authorities.

On Friday, a jury found Henegan guilty of the charges against him.

He was remanded into custody to be sentenced on January 14.

It can now be reported that Henegan had earlier attended court wearing a swastika armband and was ordered to remove it by a judge.

Cambridgeshire News

Police said Hesketh used a spare bedroom in his home to “create his obscene videos”, which had about two million views

One of the UK’s most prolific far-right anti-Semitic video streamers, who posted films of himself as an offensive caricature of a Jewish man to 10,000 subscribers online, has been jailed.

Richard Hesketh was arrested after a charity showed police his work, which had had about two million views.

The 36-year-old, of Hollin Lane in Middleton, admitted seven counts of inciting racial hatred.

He was jailed for four years at Manchester Crown Court.

Greater Manchester Police said as part of his “campaign of abuse towards the Jewish community”, Hesketh had created an alter-ego called George and dressed up for videos “in an attempt to caricature an offensive stereotype of a Jewish male, using a false voice”.

A spokesman said Hesketh used a spare bedroom in his home to “create his obscene videos which focused on celebrating far-right terrorism and showing support for violence against Jewish people”.

‘Appalling behaviour’

Counter terrorism police were alerted to his activity by Jewish protection charity The Community Security Trust (CST), which had expressed concerns about the nature of videos being uploaded to Hesketh’s profile between 2018 and 2020.

The force spokesman said the videos had “a combined viewing figure of two million views”.

A search of Hesketh’s home found mobile phones and packs of sim cards featuring large amounts of anti-Semitic imagery as well as information on conspiracy theories.

Speaking after sentencing, Det Supt Will Chatterton said Hesketh had shown “no remorse” when he was interviewed and “even continued to upload offensive material to his social media channels after he was released under investigation”.

“Hesketh enjoyed viewing videos of serious attacks on Jewish people and even made comments referring to his disappointment that the attacker in one video did not kill the victim, showing just how depraved his beliefs are,” he said.

He said Hesketh had “shared as well as created hundreds of shockingly offensive videos and content on social media, which undoubtedly incited hatred towards the Jewish community”.

“I really do hope that his time in prison is spent reflecting upon his appalling behaviour,” he added.

CST chief executive Mark Gardner said Hesketh was “one of Britain’s most prolific far-right anti-Semitic video streamers”.

“We are pleased to have helped bring this anti-Semite to justice,” he added.

BBC News

Sam Imrie had been “glorifying” murderers online – including terrorist Anders Brevik, who slaughtered 77 people in Norway in 2011

A white nationalist who idolised right-wing mass killers and hated Muslims has been jailed for a total of seven and a half years for terrorist offences.

Sam Imrie was today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow for what a judge described as the “despicable spreading of hate”.

The 24 year-old had been arrested in July 2019 after he posted messages on social media saying he was planning to set fire to the Fife Islamic Centre in Glenrothes.

Police went to discover he had been “glorifying” murderers online – including terrorist Anders Brevik, who slaughtered 77 people in Norway in 2011.

Officers also seized a terrifying arsenal of weapons at his home in Glenrothes consisting of knives, a hammer, nunchucks, an axe and a rifle scope.

Imrie was convicted of two charges of breaching the terrorism act, wilful fire raising, possessing child and “extreme” pornography and drink-driving following a trial in Edinburgh in October.

Lord Mulholland today told him: “You posted on a neo-Nazi chatroom your hatred of Muslim, Jews, black people and refugees.

“You revered neo-Nazi and white supremacists. You lauded their crimes against innocent people.

“You were spreading hate and encouraging others to take terrorist action that you pretended you had.

“Your conduct was despicable. You have no understanding or self-awareness of the hatred that you tried to spread.

“Many Muslims died fighting for the alliance in World War Two for the freedoms that you enjoyed.

“I hope you take advantage of your time in custody to remove the hatred from your heart.”

Imrie showed no emotion as he was lead back to the cells other to wave to his mother in the public benches.

Jurors heard how Imrie was a loner and had developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after being assaulted when he was younger.

He became “steeped” in right-wing ideology and started to “hate” Muslims after looking at extremist content on websites such as 8Chan and messaging app Telegram.

Imrie posted online: “All my heroes are mass murderers.”

His Snapchat username was “N*****killer1488”.

As well as idolising Brevik, Imrie was also fascinated with Brenton Tarrant, who killed Muslims praying at a mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in March 2019.

Imrie was said to have wanted Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon “to die” because of her attitudes to immigration.

His arrest came after the Metropolitan Police in London infiltrated the “FashWave Artists” group on Telegram, on which Imrie posted messages, images, videos and gifs.

He had posted a series of messages claiming he was going to “burn down” a mosque and live stream it.

The Met contacted Police Scotland and Imrie was held in early July 2019.

The trial heard he went to the Islamic Centre in Glenrothes, but did not do anything.

Imrie instead went to dilapidated Strathmore Lodge, in Thornton, Fife, and set fire to a doorway.

He filmed it and claimed to the group it was a mosque or Islamic centre.

Jurors heard he ended up being “ridiculed” by the online audience.

Imrie had denied the crimes. It was claimed his comments were a joke and that he was not serious about torching a mosque.

But, he was convicted of a terrorism charge of making statements on Telegram and Facebook which encouraged acts of terrorism.

A second charge stated Imrie made a “record of information” which would be useful to somebody who was committing acts of terrorism.

He was acquitted of a terrorism charge which stated that he engaged in conduct in “preparation” of terrorism acts.

Police also confiscated a USB stick from Imrie. The images contained “extreme” pornographic images, which he was further convicted of.

Jim Keegan QC, defending, today said: “He wrote to his mother to apologise for his behaviour.

“He gave evidence during the trial..he accepts his behaviour was inappropriate, stupid, vile.”

Imrie was also put on the sex offenders list for 10 years.

He was further slapped with a five year serious crime prevention order designed to tackle and monitor criminals when they are freed.

Daily Record

Ben Raymond retweeted a post celebrating Jo Cox’s murder, the court heard

The co-founder of a neo-Nazi group has been found guilty of being a member of a banned terrorist organisation.

Ben Raymond, 32, from Swindon, was part of National Action, a group which wanted to wage a “white Jihad” and race war in Britain.

Raymond was also convicted of possessing a manifesto by the Norwegian terrorist Andrews Breivik and a guide to homemade detonators.

He was found not guilty of four counts of possessing other documents.

The graduate is the 17th person to be convicted of membership of the white supremacist group after a jury convicted him on Tuesday.

Raymond helped create the organisation in 2013 and coined the term “white jihad”, Bristol Crown Court previously heard.

He produced much of its propaganda and was likened to the Third Reich’s propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels.

It was later proscribed after its social media channels glorified the murder of the MP Jo Cox by white supremacist terrorist Thomas Mair in 2016.

Ben Raymond when he appeared in court in April

After the ban he remained involved in the group – joining group chats, designing propaganda and continuing to associate with other leading figures.

His trial at Bristol Crown Court heard how he told an associate he would “take it as a badge of honour” if National Action was declared illegal.

Hammer and machete

Following the ban, the group’s former spokesman Jack Renshaw – an associate of Raymond – was jailed for a terrorist plot to murder his local MP Rosie Cooper in Lancashire.

Raymond had also been been in contact with Zack Davies, who in 2015 attempted to murder a Sikh man in Mold, Flintshire, using a hammer and machete.

He was later given a life sentence.

In 2018 the BBC tracked Raymond down to a Swansea bedsit and challenged him on his role in the group.

Raymond was an associate of convicted neo-Nazi Jack Renshaw

In April he was charged with remaining a member of National Action between December 2016 and September 2017, as well as several counts of possessing terrorist information, including bomb-making guides.

Following the verdict Raymond was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the same court on Friday.

BBC News

Warrant issued for James White’s arrest after he fails to attend trial over protest at Coventry Hill Hotel

A Britain First activist has been convicted of assaulting a security guard at a hotel housing asylum seekers.

James White, 31, forced open a door at the Coventry Hill Hotel as members of the far-right group tried to access an area where refugees were staying.

The incident, on 29 August 2020, came during one of numerous protests by Britain First at hotels being used by the government to house asylum seekers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Activists frequently video themselves entering hotels without permission, then film staff and anyone they deem to be a “migrant”.

White was found guilty of assault in his absence on Monday, after failing to attend his trial at Coventry Magistrates’ Court.

Janis Cauthery, chair of the bench, said: “We think this incident must have been very frightening for [victim] Mike Todd and the rest of the staff and residents.

“Mr Todd was extremely brave in trying to stop the group entering an area where only residents were allowed. In doing this he sustained an injury.”

White denied assault but magistrates found that Mr Todd’s evidence was corroborated by CCTV and other witnesses.

Giving evidence, Mr Todd told magistrates he suffered a graze to his left wrist, while trying to hold a set of double doors closed.

“I wasn’t aggressive, I was saying to these people to leave,” he said. “These people have acted aggressively to me, getting more aggressive to me and to all of the residents, who are refugees.”

CCTV played in court showed that as Mr Todd held the handles, White “yanks the doors open aggressively”, said prosecutor Harminder Hayre.

A warrant was issued for White’s arrest following his conviction, after he had previously been released on conditional bail. He will be sentenced at a later date.

The court heard that White, of Southam in Warwickshire, was one of two men initially arrested but the only one charged over the incident.

Footage of the altercation was not included in a video Britain First sent out on its social media channels claiming to have “exposed” the Coventry Hill Hotel.

It showed a group of activists, including leader Paul Golding, entering the hotel and looking for asylum seekers.

Young men were filmed as Mr Golding could be heard asking if they were asylum seekers, and what country they were from.

When challenged after entering a room containing food packages, the Britain First leader did not identify himself and claimed: “We’re just reporting, investigating this hotel. We’re wondering why this hotel is full of migrants.”

The Britain First video claimed that police stopped a minibus transporting activists from the hotel, and arrested White and another man “for no reason”.

Golding, who has previously been convicted under the Terrorism Act and for religiously-aggravated harassment, later interviewed White.

In a video published online by Britain First in September 2020, the leader claimed White “did nothing wrong”, adding: “You was in there in your capacity as a member of BFD, our security department, and your job that day was to protect me and they’ve concocted this nonsense.”

Golding said that by the time of the interview, he had visited at least 20 other hotels, and vowed that the campaign would continue.

White said he would be pleading not guilty and claimed his charge was part of efforts to give Britain First a “bad name”.

“They don’t want the general public to see what’s going on inside hotels in everyone’s area,” he added. “Britain First is exposing these and the government and our country doesn’t want that to happen.”

Police have been called to several similar incidents and the Home Office offered hotels housing asylum seekers security assistance because of actions by Britain First last year.

Hotels have been widely used as emergency asylum accommodation since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, because there was not enough capacity in official facilities to cope with social distancing and an extension of government housing support.

In September, Britain First was allowed to re-register as a political party by the Electoral Commission.

The watchdog said an official application “met the legal criteria”, and it has vowed to field candidates in upcoming elections.
The Independent

Alexander Gray from Torquay has been jailed for stirring up racial hatred. (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A neo-Nazi extremist has been jailed for attacking two brothers because one of them had a black girlfriend.

Alexander Gray threatened to dislocate one man’s jaw and rape his girlfriend after targeting them in a shop in Chudleigh, Devon.

He launched an unprovoked attack on the man and his brother, who had come to escort him home because of the threats.

Gray is already serving a two-year sentence for spreading racial hatred.

He set-up an extremist social media channel and was prosecuted after officers from the South West counter terrorism team identified him as the creator of the channel.

The attacks in Chudleigh took place in February, two months before he launched his channel and at a time when he was working as a barber in the town.

Gray, 29, of Fore Street, Chudleigh, admitted two counts of battery and racially aggravated intentional threatening behaviour.

He has been jailed for six months by Judge Peter Johnson at Exeter Crown Court and will serve the sentence after the two years he received in August.

He was described in that case as “the epitome of a racist thug” by the judge after he watched videos in which Gray tried to spark a race war and gave Nazi salutes in the centre of Torquay.

The judge told him: “You were jailed previously for offences with an element of racism and a few months earlier, in the quiet market town of Chudleigh, you showed the same racism in the threats you made.

“You uttered dreadful and dire threats and it is quite clear there was a racial element based on what you perceived his girlfriend to be.”

Miss Caroline Bolt, prosecuting, said one of the victims was in a shop in Chudleigh with his girlfriend on 11 February when Gray approached him.

He hit them both in the face and kicked one in the chest after he fell to the ground.

He told police he was acting in self defence but the incident was caught on CCTV and showed he was the aggressor.

BBC News