A 36-year-old man has been jailed today for a number of offences, including possessing a document containing information of use for preparing acts of terrorism.
Scott Mason, from Rainhill in Merseyside, appeared today, Thursday 7th July, before His Honour Judge Conrad QC sitting at Manchester Crown Square and was sentenced to a total of 3 years imprisonment.
HHJ Conrad commented that the offences would have attracted a sentence of 4 and a half years, were it not for the defendants early guilty plea.
Mason first came to police attention following a report of a domestic assault leading to his arrest by Cheshire Constabulary in October 2021. During the initial enquiries, concerns were raised surrounding Mason’s extreme right wing, racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic views, leading to Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) being informed to investigate.
Police examination of Mason’s mobile phone identified a document containing step by step instructions for producing home explosives and well as extreme pornographic images. The phone records also revealed messages showing that he had attempted to intimidate witnesses of the original domestic assault.
On 15th October 2021, officers from CTPNW and Merseyside Police executed a search warrant at Mason’s home address in Rainhill, Merseyside and he was further arrested under the Terrorism Act. During a search of the home address a “Push-Dagger”, a prohibited weapon, was located and seized by police.
Mason entered a guilty plea to the Terrorism offence in November 2021 and in January 2022 he further pleaded guilty to the weapons offence for which he received a sentence of 3 months imprisonment at the Magistrates Court. The matter was then listed for trial on the outstanding matters, however on 13th April, Mason pleaded guilty to the outstanding charges and was remanded in custody for sentence.
Detective Superintendent William Chatterton, of CTPNW, said: “This was a thorough and comprehensive investigation which has resulted in Mason facing a significant prison sentence.”
“Today’s sentencing reaffirms our commitment to making sure those who pose a risk to our society will be pursued and prosecuted.”
