Far-right extremist with antisemitic views jailed for owning “step-by-step instructions on how to make home explosives”

A far-right extremist has been jailed for three years after pleading guilty to four offences at Manchester Crown Court.

Scott Mason, 36, was found with what the police describe as “step-by-step instructions on how to make home explosives” in the form of the infamous 1971 publication The Anarchist Cookbook. The police also said that Mr Mason holds far-right, antisemitic, racist and homophobic views.

Mr Mason was charged with possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a terrorist, contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000, as well as other offences.

Mason was charged with the possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a terrorist, contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000; possession of extreme pornography; perverting the course of justice via witness intimidation; and possession of an offensive weapon. He pleaded guilty to the terrorism offence in November 2021 and then, in January 2022, to the weapons offence, for which he received a sentence of three months at the magistrates’ court. The matter was then listed for trial before he pleaded guilty to the outstanding charges in April of this year.

Judge Alan Conrad QC told Mr Mason that he would have faced a four-and-a-half-year sentence if he had not pleaded guilty as early as he did.

Detective Superintendent at Counter Terrorism Policing South West, William Chatterton, said that Mr Mason’s sentencing “reaffirms our commitment to making sure those who pose a risk to our society will be pursued and prosecuted.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Greater Manchester Police