Neo-Nazis guilty of inciting racial hatred after posting abusive comments on far-Right website

Daily Mail, UK/June 25, 2010

Two neo-Nazis who posted abusive messages on the internet about Jews and other ethnic minorities have been convicted of inciting racial hatred.

Michael Heaton, 42, and Trevor Hannington, 58, are members of an organisation called the Aryan Strike Force (ASF), Liverpool Crown Court heard.

The jury was told the pair left abusive comments on the ASF website aimed at Jewish people.

After a two-week trial, both were unanimously cleared of soliciting murder, but Heaton was convicted of six counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words likely to stir up racial hatred.

Hannington had previously admitted two counts of stirring up racial hatred and two further counts of possessing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

After a two-week trial, both were unanimously cleared of soliciting murder. The defence had argued the men were innocent of soliciting murder because they were nothing more than 'fantasists'.

However Heaton was convicted of six counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words likely to stir up racial hatred.

Hannington, from Cardiff, had previously admitted two counts of stirring up racial hatred and two further counts of possessing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

He admitted owning the Anarchist's Cookbook, Kitchen Complete and The Terrorist Encyclopaedia, all of which are considered tools to someone preparing or committing an act of terrorism.

Heaton was accused over four comments he made on the ASF website between January and April 2008.

But Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, told the jury the men 'made it their life's work' to spread racist messages and encourage others to help them achieve their goal of 'the eradication of ethnic minorities from Britain'.

'Each of these men is proud to call himself a National Socialist, or a neo-Nazi in other language,' Mr Edis said.

'Each is a member of an organisation called the Aryan Strike Force, whose goal it is to clear the country of all ethnic minorities, as they say, whatever it takes.'

The prosecutor said Heaton made more than 3,000 posts on the ASF website between January and June 2008, before he had a 'bust-up' with the organisation and created his own.

The website changed its name twice before it was closed down.

Both men used a number of names when they posted their comments on the website.

Heaton and Hannington were remanded in custody until sentencing this morning.

Police investigating the pair's activities found a variety of weapons at the homes of both men, including knives and firearms.

Heaton's bedroom was adorned in flags with symbols of far-Right movements, and a samurai sword hung above his bed.

Elsewhere around the house officers found batons, knives and knuckle dusters hanging on the walls, and a BB machine gun - a type of air gun - was also recovered at the property.

In Hannington's house police found an air rifle and daggers.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Buxton, head of the North East Counter Terrorism Unit said: 'Heaton and Hannington are white supremacists.

'They peddled hatred against innocent people purely on the basis of their ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and culture.

'Their intolerance is obsessive and goes way beyond offensive posts on forums.

'They used every opportunity to encourage violent attacks against everyone they took exception to.'

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