Soldiers in court after swoop on ‘neo-Nazis’
A MAN accused of neo-Nazi offences declared himself a “prisoner of conscience” yesterday as he appeared in court alongside two serving soldiers.
Alexander Deakin’s outburst came after he was led into the dock with Lance Corporal Mikko Vevhilainen, 32, and Private Mark Barrett, 24.
All dressed in prison issue grey tracksuits, they were accused of being members of National Action, the white supremacist group banned following the murder of MP Jo Cox.
Civilian Deakin, 22, also faced two charges of possessing and one of distributing documents containing information useful in the preparation of terrorism.
It is alleged the documents were entitled “ethnic cleansing operations” and a “White Resistance Manual for fun”.
Bespectacled Deakin, who lives with his parents in Great Barr, Birmingham, said: “I’m a prisoner of conscience. I believe I’m innocent of these charges.”
However, when asked for an indication of his formal plea at Westminster magistrates court, London, he replied: “No plea.”
Finnish-born Vevhilainen is also accused of possessing a “declaration of independence” by Anders Breivik, the Norwegian, far-Right terrorist who murdered 77 innocents at a summer camp. The Royal Anglian Regiment member faces two counts of stirring up racial hatred by posting “threatening, abusing or insulting” comments on a website and possessing a pepper spray.
Giving his address as Sennybridge Camp in Brecon, Powys, he also gave no indication of plea.
Barrett, a father-of-two and also a Royal Anglian, of Kendrew Barracks, Leicestershire, indicated that he would be pleading not guilty to the single charge he faces.
All three defendants were arrested last week following an investigation by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit and the Ministry of Defence.
Jessica Hart, prosecuting, told the court that the defendants had been part of a conversation on a messaging service used by National Action.
She said: “Searches of their properties and their devices have revealed copies of the materials seen in the case summary. Mr Deakin and Mr Vevhilainen were members prior and post proscription.”
She added: “They support the aims and objectives of the organisation National Action. It’s a far-Right extreme group. It expects a race war and aims to promote a white-only community in England.” They were remanded in custody for a hearing at the Old Bailey on September 21. Alexander Deakin yesterday and, right, a farRight National Action rally