A 31 year old man from Barnsley has today (Thursday, June 6) been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment and one year on licence for terrorism and indecent images offences.
He will also be subject to a ten year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Ryan Jackson
Ryan JACKSON (11/02/1993) of Wath Road, Brampton, was arrested in July 2021 as part of an intelligence led investigation into an online right-wing extremist chat group. Members of the Telegram group from across the UK came together to exchange racist views, propaganda, and terror manuals, while advocating the use of violence to further their cause. Linked investigations have led to six other members of the Telegram chat being convicted and sentenced to over 40 years imprisonment for terrorism and firearms offences.
A search was conducted at Jackson’s home following his arrest, resulting in 25 digital exhibits being seized and subject to detailed examination. He was found to have collected terrorist publications and had shared instructional terrorist material in the Telegram group.
While expert investigators were examining the devices, it was also found that Jackson had amassed over 900 indecent images of children, and over 200 extreme pornographic images involving animals.
Jackson was charged in November 2022, and pleaded guilty to the following offences at hearings in September 2023 and March 2024:
- Five offences of collect/make a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58, Terrorism Act 2000
- One offence of dissemination of a terrorist publication, contrary to Section 2, Terrorism Act 2006
- Three offences of make indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of children, contrary to Section 1, Protection of Children Act 1978
- One offence of possession of prohibited images of children, contrary to Section 62, Coroners and Justice Act 2009
- One offence of possession of extreme pornographic images, contrary to Section 63, Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said:
“I am grateful to the officers in this case that have conducted a thorough investigation and ensured that Jackson has been brought to justice for the number of crimes that he has committed.
“This case demonstrates the seriousness of engaging in extremist behaviour online and the real world consequences of doing so.
“Anyone found to be involved in such activity can expect to be identified and put before the courts.
“I would encourage anyone who is aware of extreme material online, to report it to police so we can take appropriate action.”
Report to police in confidence at gov.uk/ACT. In an emergency, always dial 999.