A man has been jailed after collecting extremist content and using a phone in prison whilst serving a sentence for assaulting a police officer has been jailed again.
Muhammad Zakir Arif was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Friday to three years in prison. The judge also ordered that he serve an additional one year on license and be subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order for five years upon release from prison.
The 20-year-old from Bury previously pleaded guilty to four counts of possession of material of use to a terrorist, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and three counts of offences relating to prison security, contrary to Section 40D of the Prisons Act 1952.
Arif was originally jailed in September 2024 for several offences including possession of knives, assaulting a police officer during interview, and failing to comply with a Section 49 Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) notice by refusing to provide PIN numbers for his mobile phones.
Detectives who served the original RIPA notice were able to access data from Arif’s phone and found multiple files containing extremist content, including videos by extremist organisations encouraging “believers” to conduct terrorist attacks and offering advice on how to do this.
While in prison for the original offences, a search of Arif's cell found two hidden mobile phones which he denied were his. An inspection of one of the phones found that it had been used by Arif to contact associates outside of the prison.
Detective Chief Superintendent Jon Chadwick, Head of CTPNW, said: “Muhammad Zakir Arif thought that by refusing to comply with a RIPA notice and provide access to his phone, his extremist activity would remain hidden.
“However, thanks to the detailed work by the investigation team, we were able to access the phone data and discover multiple extremist videos. These videos offered advice and encouragement to individuals considering conducting a terrorist attack. Ultimately, all he achieved by his original refusal to provide access to the phone was more prison time for himself.
“Whilst serving the original prison time, he was found to have two phones in his possession and, despite claiming they weren’t his, he had clearly been in contact with associates. I hope his conviction for that offence sends a clear message to anyone considering using a phone illegally in prison that you will be brought to justice and face even more time in custody.”
