A man from Cleethorpes has been jailed for encouraging terrorism
The 26-year-old will be subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order for five years and a Terrorism Notification Order for 30 years when he is released
Last updated 16th Jul 2025
A Cleethorpes man has been jailed for sharing Daesh propaganda and encouraging terrorism.
Muhammed Mahfuz Ahmed was handed a 15-year extended sentence at Sheffield Crown Court.
Police say he used multiple accounts to spread extremist content to over 1,300 followers online.
The 26-year-old, of Crowhill Avenue was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court in February of one offence of Encouraging Terrorism, contrary to Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006, and four offences of Disseminating Terrorist Publications, contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
Ahmed received an extended sentence, comprising of 10 years in custody and five years on licence. He will be subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order for five years and a Terrorism Notification Order for 30 years when he is released.
Ahmed was arrested as part of an intelligence led operation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East on April 18th, 2024.
Evidence recovered during a search of his home address revealed a deep-seated extremist mindset and an avid determination to share terrorist material online.
Ahmed was committed to reaching as many people as he could when sharing this material, which openly encouraged murder and acts of violence.
Ahmed took deliberate steps to circumvent the rules of social media platforms and to avoid the attention of moderators. When his accounts were banned, he created new accounts to share the same content again and even approached others to share material on his behalf.
Ahmed used five different accounts over a five-month period.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley is the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East.
He said:
“Ahmed was persistent and determined in his efforts to reach as many people as possible with his posts, which often included graphic content and glorified acts of terrorism.
"He went to considerable lengths to seek out and share material that could not easily be found on mainstream online platforms, using hashtags to appeal to a wider audience and encourage more followers.
“The potential impact of his actions should not be underestimated. By sharing Daesh propaganda, he has promoted their cause and intentionally extended the reach and influence of their ideology.
“Sharing extremist material online is not a victimless crime and may inspire others to act. We are working tirelessly alongside our partners to remove this content and identify those who seek to legitimise terrorism in this way.
"If you come across extreme material online, please help us to limit the harm by reporting it at www.gov.uk/act.”