A 16-year-old boy who joined a banned far-right group and conducted research at a synagogue has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for a series of terror offences.
The teen, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty Possession of terrorist documents, dissemination of terrorist documents and membership of a banned terrorist organization in the last month.
But a jury at Leeds Crown Court failed to reach a verdict on whether he was planning a terrorist attack. The Crown Prosecution Service told the court it would not seek a retrial on the charge.
In February 2025, the then 15-year-old boy was arrested from his father’s house in a village northumberlandWhere police found several journal entriesabout the students at his school.
He wrote, “I swear to God I hate my bullshit school”, and “I want to do horrible things to the people at my school. Some of them should be shot”, the court heard.
On the same page, the boy ranked mass murderers Neo-Nazi terrorist Anders Breivik tops their list.
officials also met “Task List” of weapons and explosives. After the arrest, and the boy’s bedroom was decorated with white supremacist flags and a Nazi SS officer’s hat.
Jurors were told the boy had been involved far right group on Telegram in early 2023, and had researched a newcastle Synagogues, electrical substations and mobile phone towers.
Police found a knife and skull masks in the teen’s room. Photo: Gardam/Saipen
Police found a Nazi-style hat in his room. Photo: Guardam/CPNE
Sentencing, Mr Justice Wall, who rejected an application to remove the teenager’s anonymity, told him: “I hope you will now realize how seriously any involvement with terrorist organizations is taken.
“You expressed hatred towards groups that are habitual targets of right-wing extremists, such as the Jewish community. You did so in graphic and disturbing terms.
“You said at the trial that you never actually held such a belief. I have no doubt that you were lying about that.”
The court heard during the trial that the teen’s activity increased in August 2024 after he sent messages on Telegram to a banned terrorist group called The Base, which encourages its followers to carry out acts of violence in order to incite racial war.
A view of a boy’s bedroom in Northumberland. Photo: Guardam/CPNE
In February last year, a Russian user claiming to be the leader of The Base urged youth to take action, saying, “We are ready to help you”.
The Russian user also told him in a separate message: “Brother, don’t doubt. You are doing a good deed, a benefit to your community.”
“You are a warrior, brother, and we are very proud of you. We will help you in whatever you need because you are part of us, the brotherhood.”
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Frieda Hussain Casey, defending, said at the sentencing hearing that the young man had been “groomed” online, and that his father had “considered the supervision he should have provided and would provide in the future”.
Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, warned parents: “This case provides a stark reminder of the dangers of extreme material online, and how individuals can be involved in serious crime.
“Often we see real-world implications of individuals who have been influenced by such material, or even inspired to plan or participate in terrorist activity.”
