A man who posted messages on social media calling for far-right violence and possessed a neo-Nazi terrorism manual has been jailed.
Tygue Joseph Crowther, 36, used X to encourage racial attacks and was in possession of six banned documents, four of which he sent to people with whom he had discussed setting up a terrorist organization, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
He claimed he was a freelance investigative journalist and possessed the material for legal reasons, but changed his plea during the trial.
Crowther, from Scholes, near Clerkseton, admitted recklessly encouraging terrorism and possessing and distributing terrorist publications and was jailed for four years and nine months on Friday.
Judge Robert Adams told the sentencing hearing that counter-terrorism police arrested Crowther at his home on June 12, 2024.
Items seized by police included Crowther’s mobile phone, two neck gaiters bearing skull masks with links to far-right groups and a shirt bearing the British National Party logo.
‘Tensions are high’
The judge told the court Crowther’s phone showed he had set up an X account in October 2023, which had open settings meaning anyone could view the account.
The account had 66 followers and its profile picture depicted a soldier giving a Nazi salute alongside far-right slogans, references to anti-Semitic conspiracies and support for Adolf Hitler.
Crowther posted messages calling for and encouraging terrorist violence and the “elimination of certain segments of society,” and included videos glorifying violence committed by neo-Nazis.
The judge said the posts came at a time of “high tensions over immigration”.
The court heard Crowther had closed X’s account before his arrest.
The court heard he also exchanged messages with another user on the messaging app Telegram and they discussed setting up a “camp” and showing people “we are willing to support our race no matter what”.
Crowther said this “needs to happen before it’s too late” and “we need our voices to be heard, not just online but in the streets”.
Crowther was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday [BBC]
The judge told the court Crowther sent four “substantial” terrorist publications to another Telegram user.
They contain a wealth of information on “how to kill and get away with it,” how to prepare explosive devices and carry out terrorist attacks.
The judge said that when users received the documents, they told Crowther he was a “dangerous man” and that the publications were what they needed.
The court heard Crowther was in possession of a total of six documents or “manuals” which were hundreds of pages long and provided “practical” instructions on how to make poisons and explosive substances, including “clear and understandable diagrams”.
They also spelled out anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic beliefs and advised people on how to film the killings to maximize terror.
The handbooks called for chaos and “brutal warriors” to fight a “race war”, the court heard.
plead guilty
The judge said Crowther told police after his arrest he knew why they were there and appeared to “fess up to it”.
But he later “fighted” and denied the offences, claiming he was a freelance investigative journalist, before pleading guilty on the eighth day of his trial, the court heard.
In mitigation, the court heard the father-of-four was depressed and bored after a relationship ended and he lost his job at a bakery.
The judge said there was no evidence that any attack was committed as a result of his actions.
Meanwhile, the court heard Crowther said the material in his possession was “abhorrent” and did not reflect his true beliefs.
Adams said it seemed “highly likely” that Crowther was trying to manipulate people and that his responsibility was not “substantially diminished” by his mental health issues.
“Dividing Communities”
Crowther must serve two-thirds of his sentence before he is considered eligible for parole.
He will also have to serve a further year on extended license after his release from prison as he is considered a “criminal of special concern”.
Following Crowther’s sentencing, Chief Constable James Dunkley, head of counter-terrorism policing for the North East, said: “Viewing and sharing terrorist documents is not a victimless crime and just one document like the one shared by Crowther could lead to the radicalization of countless others.
“The content of such publications is hateful, divisive and encourages others to commit violent attacks.
“Those who seek to divide our communities by sharing extremist material will be identified and brought to justice.”
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