Nick de la Poer KC in terrorist prosecution

Luke Skelton was accused of planning to carry out a terrorist attack on police stations in Newcastle. Prosecuted by Nick, the defendant was unanimously convicted by a jury in Middlesbrough, in a trial before the Recorder of Middlesbrough.

The prosecution’s case was that the defendant subscribed to a neo-Nazi ideology and wished to accelerate what he believed to be a coming race war through the commission of a terrorist act. It was alleged that over a period of twelve months, the defendant explored a number of potential targets for his attack, including sites abroad.

It was alleged that the defendant wrote a manifesto and a document he described as “a Final Note” in which he set out his ideology and his vision for a white supremist state. It was also alleged that he wrote down the ingredients for two types of explosive and researched a number of others. The defendant also travelled to Newcastle and took photographs in the vicinity of a police station in what the prosecution contended was hostile reconnaissance.

The defendant was arrested by Counter Terrorism Police North East before taking further steps in his plan.

His defence was that he was engaging in a ‘ego trip’, wished to push boundaries online and had never intended to carry out any attack.

He will be sentenced on 19 June 2023.

Nick was instructed by Jan Newbold of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division. He led Joe Allman of Lincoln House Chambers.

This is the second successful prosecution of an alleged terrorist plot that Nick has conducted this year.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/luke-skelton-terror-attack-race-war-b2339897.html

Authors

Nicholas de la Poer KC

Call 2003 | Silk 2020

Related areas

Crime

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