Man sentenced for sharing terrorist material

A man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to sharing material online in support of Islamic State.

Ryan Scuffil was sentenced to a three-year community order and 200 hours on unpaid work at the Central Criminal Court in London following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing South West (CTPSW).

The 28-year-old from Norton Fitzwarren pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 when appearing before magistrates in Westminster on Monday 20 May.

He was found to have used a social media profile under a false name to post pro-Islamic State material, including statements glorifying acts of terrorism and graphic images over an 11-month period from September 2022.

Officers carried out a warrant in August 2023 and seized devices from his property.

Scuffil was given a three-year community order, which will include a rehabilitation requirement as well as ensuring he engages with the Prevent intervention programme. There is also a requirement to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Head of CTPSW Detective Superintendent Sarah Robbins said: “We’d like to reassure people that during the course of enquiries there was no evidence at all that Scuffil was considering or planning any sort of activity that would have directly endangered public safety.

“The items found on his devices, though, clearly showed a mindset and willingness to disseminate propaganda material supportive of Islamic State and he had set up a social media profile under another name to carry that out.

“A dedicated team from across the CTPSW region worked together to obtain all the evidence that was required to secure this conviction, alongside Avon and Somerset Police colleagues.

“Such offences are rare, but where they do occur we will fully investigate and seek to bring the offender to justice.”