Huddersfield man sentenced for dissemination of terrorist material

A man from Huddersfield has been sentenced to 27 months in prison at Leeds Crown Court.

Last month Steven Donovan pleaded guilty to offences including stirring up racial hatred, dissemination of terrorist material and possession of a knife. He was also convicted of possessing racially inflammatory material and possession of extreme pornography.

On routine patrol in May 2020, a PCSO found graffiti and stickers in Greenhead Park in Huddersfield, and an investigation was launched by Counter Terrorism Policing North East.

It was found that the same person had also been posting and sharing extreme right wing material online.

Donovan was arrested in June 2020 and charged in August 2021.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jim Dunkerley, head of CTP NE said: “Communities in West Yorkshire work tirelessly alongside agencies such as the police to ensure our towns and cities are welcoming and inclusive to people of all backgrounds.

“Those that seek to bring hatred to our communities and disrupt cohesion through criminal activities will be tracked down and brought before the courts.

“We must stand together by challenging hateful extremist attitudes and trusting our instincts by reporting concerning or suspicious behaviour to the police.”

Image: Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons