Terrorist alert convert set for mental treatment

A former soldier and Muslim convert who threatened to kill “unbelievers” should have mental health treatment, a sheriff has ruled.

Alexander Tiffin appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday after pleading guilty last year to behaving in a threatening manner and sparking a major terrorist alert.

Tiffin, who had been to Saudi Arabia and Turkey before his drunken rant, sent menacing text messages to a member of his mosque five days after the London Bridge attack in June last year.

The man was so concerned he informed the police, but after a thorough police investigation the conclusion was that Tiffin was not a terrorist – but “an idiot”.

When he appeared in court last year, Tiffin had sentence deferred for good behaviour and an up-todate background report.

Fiscal depute Fraser Matheson confirmed to Sheriff Margaret Neilson that Tiffin had not been in any trouble since the deferral.

Tiffin’s solicitor Roger Webb said social workers assessed the 30-year-old as not posing a risk of causing anyone serious harm.

But he added that his client had seen a mental health specialist and he should be referred for a treatment programme.

Mr Webb has previously told the court there was no evidence that Tiffin of Kilmuir Place, Invergordon, had been radicalised.

He explained: “He told officers he was stupid and apologises to the court, the police and the mosque.”

Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart previously said a congregation member had received several texts from Tiffin’s mobile.

He added: “The third said ‘I decided to kill the unbelievables’, followed by a text simply stating ‘Unbelievers’ and another saying ‘Allahu Akbar’.”

Tiffin claimed to have no memory of having sent it.

Tiffin will reappear on July 26.

“Sent menacing text messages to a member of his mosque”