Oldham man jailed for terror offences
Benjamin Stimson joined pro-Russian militia to fight Ukranian government
Last updated 14th Jul 2017
An unemployed Briton who joined pro-Russian militia fighting against Ukrainian government forces has been jailed for five years and four months for a terrorism offence.
Benjamin Stimson, 41, who went to the conflict zone in the Donbass region, is the only UK citizen to have been prosecuted for assisting the anti-Government militia in Ukraine.
While in the country, he gave an interview in which he claimed he was “a working class man with no work'' whose last job was on a zero hours contract.
He said he could not live in Britain any more and was prepared to kill someone if his life was threatened on the front line in what he said he would class as “an act of war''.
Stimson also posted on Facebook a photograph of himself holding an AK-47, said it was “simple n' easy'' and summed up Donbass as vodka, women and guns''.
But Manchester Crown Court heard that Stimson, formerly of Oldham, Greater Manchester, did not actually engage in any fighting during his four months in eastern Ukraine in 2015 and had intended to perform humanitarian work by driving ambulances.
Sentencing him, the Honorary Recorder of Manchester David Stockdale QC said: “You ultimately did no physical harm to anyone but you assisted the militia by your presence and your involvement, and you will have given a lead to others.
“I accept you do not hold extremist views and you have expressed your regret for your actions.
“It is clear to me that your intention of going there was not to fight but to escape your life in the United Kingdom, perhaps to find adventure and to possibly carry out humanitarian work.
“There is no evidence at all that you at any stage used any violence upon anyone. There is no evidence that you actually engaged in combat.
“On the contrary there is evidence that your presentation as a fighting man was in large part an exaggeration on your own part or even the product of fantasy.''
Stimson pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to a single charge of assisting others in committing terrorism acts.
The Crown did not proceed with an additional count of engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorism.
Stimson will be considered for parole at the halfway point of his sentence and on his eventual release will have to serve an extra 12 months on licence
Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, Head of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit said: “Stimson went over to the Ukraine with the intention of joining militia groups fighting against the Ukrainian government and the images of him holding a rifle and wearing military clothing are deeply concerning.
“This case demonstrates the complex work the Counter Terrorism Unit does to stop those who commit acts of terrorism, whether that is at home or abroad.
“He has been jailed for the role he played in a violent conflict and I hope his conviction will send a message to all those who are even considering joining conflicts.”