Malakai Wheeler received a six-year prison sentence on November 3 for the possession and dissemination of terrorist material.
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A jury found a Swindon-based neo-Nazi guilty of terrorism offences following a two-week trial at Winchester Crown Court.
Malakai Wheeler, 18, shared terrorism documents and weapons manuals over Telegram.
Following the conviction, the judge told Wheeler to expect a custodial sentence.
Counter-terror police arrested him in May 2021, when aged 16.
The detailed investigation unearthed Wheeler’s obsessive sharing of racist propaganda to the Telegram channel – which amounted to 92 documents and 35 images.
Breaches of terrorism legislation included the sharing of information that would help in the creation of weapons or explosives, including smoke grenades.
The Telegraph reported that Malakai Wheeler began sharing terrorist materials aged 15 when a student at Marling School in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
He also possessed copies of various white supremacist literature, including terrorist screeds.
The jury also heard how Wheeler possessed a copy of the Christchurch terror attacks video on his mobile phone, dubbed over with the Queen song Don’t Stop Me Now.
The prosecution outlined how the Telegram channel in question was a space for hardened neo-Nazis.
Tell MAMA’s research has identified over twenty individuals convicted of far-right terrorism offences in the UK (one other case involved a UK national in Ireland) who took inspiration from or possessed copies of the Christchurch terror attack footage or had copies of the terrorist screed.
More broadly, following the publication of our wide-ranging ten-year report, at Tell MAMA, we warned that especially in the online world, the racist conspiracies that influenced such terrorism have gained more mainstream credence or attention.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, who is the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, made clear following the guilty verdict that: “Although only 16 at the time of his arrest, Wheeler was deeply entrenched in a Telegram chat group committed to extreme right-wing ideology.
“He was not simply curious, or a passive observer within the group. He clearly shared the same mindset as other members and was very active when it came to promoting racist and antisemitic views and propaganda.
“It is important young people recognise the potential impact of their online activity, before they cross a line into criminality, or engage in harmful or dangerous behaviours.
Wiltshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith said in a press release: “I’m sure this case will cause some concern within our communities in Swindon but I hope it illustrates the commitment across the national police service to work together to apprehend those who share deeply dangerous views.
“I would like to thank our colleagues at the National Counter Terrorism Policing Network for their robust action and for ensuring this individual doesn’t pose any threat to our local communities.”