Leicester man jailed after terrorism book found in his home
Claudiu Stefan Cristea will spend 5 years and 6 months in prison
A Leicester man has been sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison for possession of a terrorist document, that was found when police raided his home.
An investigation was launched after officers were alerted to an extreme right wing online chat group, in which individuals were suspected of planning a terrorist attack against a target in Leeds.
Officers then searched Claudiu Stefan Cristea's home on Queens Road in Leicester.
They said they found a book which provides instructions on the manufacture of explosives, weapons and drugs.
The 46-year-old was later charged with one offence of collecting information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
He was found guilty after a week-long trial at Leicester Crown Court.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “Cristea maintained that his interest in far right ideology was purely academic, but his involvement with the ‘Einsatz14’ chat group showed that was not the case.
“He shared racist and antisemitic views in that chat group with individuals who went on to plan an extreme right wing terrorist attack.
“Extremist material, whether it be online or in books, causes harm to people in the real world.
“If you come across material which you suspect may be terrorist or extremist, ACT Early and report it so we can stop the harm it spreads," he said.