Alleged co-founder of neo-Nazi terror group appears in court

An alleged co-founder of banned neo-Nazi group National Action has appeared in court charged with terror offences.

Ben Raymond, 31, is accused of being a member of the far-right organisation after it was outlawed in the UK in December 2016.

Prosecutors allege he continued to share the group’s ideology and actively participated in it, including by helping to produce propaganda.

Raymond is also charged with three counts of possessing documents likely to be useful to terrorism.

The charges relate to terrorist manuals, allegedly found on hard drives, which included instructions for the manufacture and use of weapons, explosive substances and devices.

Raymond, from Swindon, appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, speaking to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

He faces four charges, including membership of a proscribed organisation contrary to Section 11 of the Terrorism Act between December 17 2016 and September 27 2017, and three counts of possessing material likely to be useful for terrorism under Section 58 of the act.

Raymond did not indicate pleas to any of the charges.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted him unconditional bail ahead of his next court appearance at the Old Bailey on May 14.

Raymond, who gave a thumbs up as he left court, is alleged to have been a founding member of National Action, which was created in 2013.

He was charged last week by detectives from West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit after being interviewed under caution over three days at a police station in Wiltshire.