Far-right extremist jailed over online posts calling for extermination of Jews
Harry Parris, 22, of Bittaford, near Plymouth, had pleaded guilty to four offences of encouraging terrorism.
A far-right extremist has been jailed for two years and nine months for posting pictures, videos and comments online calling for the extermination of Jews and other non-white people.
Harry Parris, 22, of Bittaford, near Plymouth in Devon, had pleaded guilty to four offences of encouraging terrorism on the basis that he was “reckless” in relation to posts and videos posted on Telegram and BitChute channels between 2019 and 2021.
He had also admitted six offences of having documents likely to be useful to a person preparing acts of terrorism.
The extremist titles were White Resistance Manual, Big Book Of Mischief, 50 Calibre Rifle Construction Manual, Homemade Napalm, Anarchy Cookbook 2000 and Bazooka – How To Build Your Own.
Sentencing Parris at Winchester Crown Court, Judge Jane Miller KC said that the defendant, who had been diagnosed with ADHD, had become isolated during the Covid-19 pandemic and had become exposed to extremist views online.
Judge Miller said that he had joined an “extreme right-wing organisation actively promoting a violent national socialist ideology including political terror and in particular the murder of Jewish people but also other non-white groups and politicians”.
She added he was a member of other Telegram groups “dedicated to promoting neo-Nazi content and sharing incitements to violence”.
Parris had also become the administrator of a Telegram channel which Judge Miller said included posts that were “explicitly racist and some of which could be seen as a direct call for action”.
She added: “You insulted many sections of society including Jews, Christians, black people, Africans, gypsies, and those from east Asia.
“You glorified the Nazis suggesting all Jews and gypsies should be exterminated.”
Parris also posted an image of himself doing the Nazi salute as well as other posts with offensive slogans.
The court heard that the defendant also posted “deeply offensive videos”.
Another video featured Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 people at the Christchurch mosques in 2019, and included a voiceover created by the defendant.
The defendant was sentenced to serve a further year on licence at the completion of his custodial sentence.
Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), said: “Publishing statements supporting toxic, terrorist ideology and being in possession of documents like bomb-making manuals are extremely serious offences.”
Nick Price, head of the CPS special crime and counter terrorism division, said: “Harry Parris’ extreme views have no place in society.
“His collection of extremist literature and online posts were abhorrent given the potential threat to public safety.
“The CPS will always seek to prosecute such appalling criminal behaviour and it is only right that Parris has been jailed today for his crimes.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
