More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A right-wing extremist who downloaded guides to making plastic explosives has walked free from court.
George Fowle, of Lucas Road in Snodland, was handed a suspended sentence after admitting he accessed the material when he was just 17.
Fowle, now 20, was stopped at Heathrow Airport before boarding a flight to the United States in June, and a search of his devices revealed the bomb-making information as well as a host of other right-wing material.
His phone was found to contain a video of the Christchurch terrorist attack in New Zealand, more than 400 images of far-right figures and emblems, social media posts admitting he admired people such as Adolf Hitler, and videos of himself draped in the St George's flag loading an air rifle and a handgun.
He had also searched the internet for 'Black Market Guns’ and ‘Download Blueprints for Homemade Guns/HomeBuildPlan’.
Investigators found a number of postcards containing offensive slogans about religion, race and gender at his home, as well as further examples of an interest in explosives, firearms and mass casualty incidents in public places, such as schools.
Dan Pawson-Pounds, prosecuting, told the court today: "In the months prior to the offences, he was at a north Kent college studying a course in public services.
"He initially raised no concerns, but in December 2018 he became more forceful in his attitudes and disruptive in lessons.
"Mr Fowle had an entrenched right-wing and racist mindset as well as an interest in mass casualty incidents, such as the New Zealand mosque attacks that was livestreamed on Facebook by the perpetrator at the time. It was 16 minutes and 45 seconds long, which was sent to the defendant on Snapchat."
Appearing at the Old Bailey today, Fowle pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing material likely to be of use to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
In sentencing, judge Mark Dennis told him: "This was shameful and very disturbing criminal behaviour. You have purpose to embrace a vile mindset that should have no place in a democratic and peaceful society.
"There are circumstances in your background that may explain your offending behaviour that developed but nothing can justify such behaviour."
He sentenced Fowle to 20 months’ detention and supervision, suspended for 24-months, for each count, 120 hours’ unpaid work and 60 months’ probation.
Det Chief Supt Kath Barnes, head of counter terrorism policing south east, said: "Although 17 at the time, there is no doubt that Fowle has demonstrated the mind-set of a right wing terrorist, and given his interest in mass casualty incidents and his research into explosives, it's vital that he has been convicted."
