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A teenager who identified as a “Nazi” has been sentenced to 18 months in detention after it was revealed that he had collected a cache of weapons and engaged in discussions online about carrying out a school shooting. The 15-year-old, hailing from near Market Drayton in Shropshire, pleaded guilty to possessing various weapons without supervision in November, including a butterfly knife, a stun gun, a baton, and a crossbow. Furthermore, he admitted to possessing terrorist information from a third-party manifesto.
During the sentencing, Judge Rebecca Trowler KC remarked that the teenager clearly harbored terrorist motivations, stemming from racial and ideological beliefs. In addition to the custodial term, the boy was handed a 12-month license and a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) lasting three years. The judge highlighted the potential risk of harm posed by the teenager’s actions but noted that it was not definitively likely, taking into account factors such as his age, lack of prior criminal record, history of bullying, recent autism diagnosis, and anxiety disorder.
The court proceedings revealed that the teenager had a fascination with mass attacks, particularly school shootings, and had aspirations to emulate such atrocities. Following a police visit in November 2024, where officers discovered an array of weapons at his residence, including air weapons, crossbows, knives, and a samurai sword, he was instructed not to have unsupervised internet access or acquire more weapons as part of his bail conditions. Despite his parents’ compliance with moving him back into their main home and enrolling him in deradicalization and mental health programs, subsequent checks revealed concerning chats referencing violence and extremist content, leading to his remand at Feltham Young Offenders Institution.
The defense contended that the teenager’s behaviors were rooted in isolation and victimization, exacerbated by the pandemic and school-related bullying. His barrister emphasized that the defendant’s actions were more aligned with pretense and fantasy rather than genuine intent to carry out violent acts, attributing them to a coping mechanism for his challenges. The court was informed that despite making alarming statements and engaging in disturbing conversations, the boy maintained a clear distinction between fantasy and reality, signifying a level of understanding and control over his actions
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