GUILTY: 18-year-old pleads guilty to various far-right terror offences

An 18-year-old from Oxfordshire will face sentencing next month after pleading guilty to various far-right terror offences.

Oliver Riley pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 11).

The offences included three counts of possessing documents or records that would likely prove useful to an individual preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

A further offence concerned the provision of a service to others which helps them obtain, read, listen or access a publication (intended or recklessly) that would influence (directly or indirectly) encouragement or other inducements to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

In the final offence, Riley had sent grossly offensive content online, a breach of Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

Riley uploaded various neo-Nazi videos that breached existing terrorism legislation.

We covered the terrorism charges against Oliver Riley in June.

Detective Chief Superintendent Oliver Wright, who leads Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), said: “Riley has recognised that he committed these offences by being in possession of videos which glorify terrorism and which promote white supremacy throughout.

“Some of the harmful content Riley had promotes the separation of races by violent means, along with some particularly hateful content being directed at the LGBTQ+ community.

“These are serious offences and I am glad that he at least acknowledged  these offences by pleading guilty.”

Yesterday, we highlighted key extracts from the wide-ranging Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament report on far-right terrorism and extremism on Twitter, including how digital platforms, both mainstream and non-mainstream, are fertile grounds for recruiting and propaganda purposes.

Riley will appear at the Old Bailey on August 19 for sentencing.