Boy, 15, denies setting up racist terror group
A DERBYSHIRE schoolboy has denied setting up an online terror cell for young people with extreme right-wing racist views.
The 15-year-old, whose identity is protected by law, pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges when he appeared over a link into Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Wearing a black and white Nike tracksuit top for the hearing he spoke only to confirm his name.
A second teenager, who is 16 and not from Derbyshire, appeared in court in person and pleaded not guilty to the same charges.
A three-day trial is set to take place at the same court beginning on June 28.
The Derbyshire teenager was remanded into youth detention until the trial. The second youth was handed conditional bail.
Both youths have been charged with one offence of dissemination of a terrorist publication under Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006 and one offence of collecting information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Derbyshire youth is alleged to have been the head of the terror cell for young people who have expressed similar political beliefs.
On it, the teen is alleged to have used the forum to distribute far right-wing material to others and that one of them has already been charged with preparing a terrorist act. That youth, also aged under 18 but also not from the Derbyshire area, has already appeared at the Old Bailey.
Mark Luckett, the Derbyshire teenager’s solicitor, told a previous hearing his client has now been assessed by a psychologist since he was charged in December.
He said: “An early indication is that he suffers severe ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and severe autism.”
The teenager, who lives close to Derby, was initially arrested in September where his mobile phone was seized and analysed. He was then arrested again on Thursday, December 10. When he appeared at court he spoke to confirm his name and date of birth for the hour-long hearing hearing.
In December, the police’s North East counter terrorism unit released a statement. It read: “A 15-year-old from South Derbyshire (has been) charged with two offences under the Terrorism Act.
“He is charged with one offence of dissemination of a terrorist publication under Section 2 TACT 2006 and one offence of collecting information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism under Section 58 Terrorism Act 2000 and remanded in custody.
“He was arrested on Thursday, December 10, and charged early on December 11 following an intelligence led investigation led by CTP (counter terrorism police) North East and assisted by CTP East Midlands and Derbyshire Police. He had previously been arrested, under the Terrorism Act, in September.”
In May, the Counter-terrorism and Sentencing Bill was introduced by Parliament. It ends early release for terror offenders who receive what are called extended determinate sentences, where the maximum penalty was life, and forces them to serve their whole term in jail.
It also sees the most dangerous offenders – those found guilty of serious terror offences such as the worst examples of preparing acts of terrorism – handed a minimum 14-year prison term and up to 25 years on licence.
Speaking at the launch, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland QC MP, said: “Terrorists and their hateful ideologies have no place on our streets.
“They can now expect to go to prison for longer and face tougher controls on release.”