Terror accused ‘disgusted and ashamed’ of his fascist views
AFORMER Army driver on trial accused of neo-Nazi related terror offences has told a jury he was “a bit of a fan of Nigel Farage”.
Dean Morrice, 34, told Kingston Crown Court he enjoyed dressing up as a “right-wing fascist” in outfits including a tactical vest, beret, and skull mask.
He admitted holding “fascist and neo-Nazi views,” but said he now feels “very ashamed” of his “disgusting” conduct online.
Morrice of Paulton, near Bristol, denies two counts of having an explosive substance, three counts of dissemination of a terrorist publication, one of encouraging terrorism and four of possession of a document useful for terrorist purposes.
The court has heard he uploaded a video of himself strumming a guitar to footage of the Christchurch mosque shooting just three days after the 2019 attack.
He regularly took part in far-right forums and had set up two of his own channels, glorifying figures from the Third Reich, Mussolini and Oswald Mosley, the leader of the British Union of Fascists political party, jurors have been told.
Giving evidence yesterday, Morrice admitted the material, detailed in a 74-page document, had “undoubtedly” offended some members of the jury.
“It’s very disgusting and I’m very ashamed,” he said.
Police found a stockpile of chemicals used in home-made explosives, as well as terrorism manuals and instructions for a 3D-printed gun, when his home was raided last August, the court has heard.
Morrice told officers he had “flirted with some pretty disgusting views” in a bid to “fit in with people who are perhaps a little bit more exciting than I am”.
“I understand some of the things you will want to talk about are vile and I will carry that shame for a very long time,” he said.
He claimed he was “apolitical” but admitted in court he had not wanted to reveal his true opinions to police because: “I believed that having far-right views was against the law.”
Morrice, who ran a small business fixing electronics after a brief stint in the Army, which he joined aged 16 as a driver, said he had an interest in “memes” and politics, as well as outdoor pursuits, such as canoeing and caving.
He told jurors he had been a paid-up member of Mr Farage’s former party Ukip but left “a few
❝ I think it’s fair to say I have fascist and neo-Nazi views
Dean Morrice
years ago”.
“I was a bit of a fan of Nigel Farage of Ukip, and after his plane crash sat up and became more politically aware,” Morrice said. The politician suffered minor head injures when a light aircraft he was in crashed during the 2010 general election campaign.
He told jurors his views had become more far right up until his arrest in 2020. Asked to describe his political views now, Morrice said: “I think it’s fair to say I have fascist and neo-Nazi views.”
But Morrice said he did not believe in “committing acts of violence towards ethnic or religious groups” and did not want to encourage terrorism.
The trial continues.