Two men who used a podcast series to encourage listeners to commit violent acts against ethnic minorities have been jailed for a combined total of 15 years today, following an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
Christopher Gibbons, 40 (20.04.83) and Tyrone Patten-Walsh, 36 (22.12.87) both from London, were identified by Met officers as being the hosts of a neo-Nazi online podcast.
Christopher Gibbons, 40
The pair aired their homophobic, racist, anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and misogynistic views, and on some occasions they encouraged listeners to commit acts of terrorist violence.
The investigation found that Gibbons had also created an online library containing hundreds of extreme right-wing texts and other material.
The content in the online library and podcast was assessed and some of the material was found to be in breach of terrorism legislation.
Met detectives subsequently arrested the men in May 2021 and in August 2021 charged them with a number of terrorism offences.
The men were convicted of all the charges against them following a trial at Kingston Crown Court which concluded on Friday, 7 July.
Tyrone Patten-Walsh, 36
Today, at the same court, Gibbons was sentenced to eight years in prison for eight counts of encouraging acts of terrorism, contrary to section one of the Terrorism Act 2006, and two counts of dissemination of terrorist publications, contrary to section two of the Terrorism Act 2006.
Patten-Walsh was sentenced to seven years in prison for eight counts of encouraging acts of terrorism.
Both will also be subject to a 15-year-long Part 4 notification order and serve three years on licence when they are released, to reduce their ability to cause further harm.
Leader of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, Commander Dominic Murphy:
“The material that Gibbons and Patten-Walsh shared is exactly the kind that has the potential to draw vulnerable people – particularly young people – into terrorism.
“We are determined to identify and hold to account individuals pushing this material. In this case, officers reviewed hours-upon-hours of material to present a compelling case.
Commander Dominic Murphy
“I hope this case and today’s sentencing sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those who share terrorist material or encourage others to become involved in terrorism.”
Anyone who come across extremist content online is urged to report it to police online and anonymously at gov.uk/act
Officers identified that the duo had produced 21 episodes of the podcast. Gibbons’ neo-Nazi online library was found by officers to have held more than 500 videos of extreme right-wing-related speeches and propaganda documents. It had nearly 1,000 subscribers, and the content had been viewed more than 152,000 times.
The videos and files were analysed by a team of specialist officers from the Met’s specialist Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit and they assessed that the material breached terrorism legislation.
Officers identified seven videos and a further document that, as well as containing extremist views, contained particular imagery, rhetoric or information that encouraged others to carry out terrorist acts.
Communities defeat terrorism, and information from the public is vital to counter terrorism investigations. If you see or hear something unusual or suspicious and think someone may be engaging in terrorist activity, trust your instincts and act by reporting it in confidence at gov.uk/act or the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, dial 999.
Visit the ACT Early website at www.actearly.uk to find out how you can seek help and support for anyone who you suspect may be being radicalised.