Three in court over alleged membership of ‘rebranded’ National Action group

Three people have appeared in court accused of belonging to a “rebranded” version of the prohibited neo-Nazi organisation National Action.

Garry Jack, 22, of Heathland Avenue, Birmingham, Daniel Ward, 28, of Highmore Drive, Birmingham, and a 17-year-old boy from Nottingham, who cannot be identified because of his age, were arrested by West Midlands counter-terror police on September 5.

They appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with being members of the group contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Prosecutors claim the three remained part of the far-right organisation after it was banned by then-home secretary Amber Rudd, between December 2016 and September 2017.

The court heard the suspects “continued with the membership (of National Action), albeit under a different name”.

The two adult defendants appeared in the dock wearing grey prison tracksuits.

The teenager, a college student, was allowed to sit in the well of the court alongside his father.

Addressed by his first name only, the boy spoke to confirm his name, age, address and his English nationality, and that he understood what the district judge was saying.

Jack and Ward also spoke to confirm their personal details during the hearing.

All three declined to indicate a plea to the single charge.

Jack and Ward were remanded in custody until a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on October 12.

The teenage suspect was released on bail.

All three were arrested at the same time as two others, Mark Jones, 24, and Alice Cutter, 22, both of Wharf Street in Halifax, who appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 7 accused of the same offence.

All five are due to appear before the Old Bailey next month.