Man with swastika-engraved dagger who sent antisemitic messages sentenced after pleading guilty to terrorism charge

A man discovered to have been in possession of Nazi memorabilia and who sent antisemitic messages was sentenced last week after he pleaded guilty to a terrorism charge. 

Matthew Patterson of Kettering first came to the attention of Counter Terrorism Police when he sent racist tweets amid the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

Shortly after, police conducted a search of his home where they discovered a collection of Nazi memorabilia, which included an SS ring, a gas mask and a swastika-engraved dagger. 

Police also retrieved extreme far-right antisemitic messages from Mr Patterson’s digital devices.

Mr Patterson pleaded guilty to one charge of collecting information for terrorist purposes under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and was given an eleven-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Leicester Crown Court. He will be subject to an extended period on license of one year.

Detective Inspector Alan Jackson from Northamptonshire Police’s Counter Terrorism Police-East Midlands Special Branch team said: “This was a complex investigation that led to the discovery of extreme right-wing and antisemitic communications as well as a number of Nazi memorabilia in his possession.”

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

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