Brit fights in war for Russia and gets 5yrs
Ex-antique dealer never fired a shot
A BRITON has been jailed for terror offences after joining Russianbacked rebels in wartorn Ukraine… despite never having fired a shot.
Benjamin Stimson, 41, flew to Moscow to become a “soldier of the new Russia” after studying Communist propaganda on the internet.
The former antiques dealer, from Oldham, Gtr Manchester, spent four months with separatists in the Donbass region in 2015 after Russia annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea in 2014.
He boasted to a friend how his side had “tanks and working bazookas” and lied that he was taking cover from shelling, when he actually arrived two days after the bombardment had finished.
He gave an interview to the BBC, saying he was prepared “to kill people” and posted pictures on Facebook of him at a military camp brandishing an AK-47 assault rifle. But he never fired a shot.
Stimson was arrested as he flew into Manchester Airport in November 2015. Police found military clothing in his luggage stitched with the flag of “Novorussia”. At Manchester crown court, he admitted assisting others in committing terrorism acts in the first case of its type. He was jailed for five years and four months. Richard Thomas, defending, said Stimson had battled with heroin addic- tion and added: “He was told he could be involved in humanitarian work, driving an ambulance. He was not intending to fight. He travelled to the front line. He accepts if they had been attacked by Ukraine, he would have fought with the others, but he didn’t do any fighting.”
Judge David Stockdale told Stimson: “You presented as a soldier ready for combat. You were plainly assisting others in terrorist acts and knowingly doing so. Your presentation as a fighting man was in large an exaggeration on your own part or fantasy.
“You ultimately did no physical harm to anyone, but you assisted the militia by your presence and you will have given a lead to others. This is serious offending.”