Man jailed after admitting terrorism offences

Man jailed after admitting terrorism offences

Duncan Leatherdale

Fri, February 6, 2026 at 2:28 PM UTC

4 min read

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Mugshot of Crowther. he has a short thick brown beard and short light brown hair swept over his head. — Tygue Crowther, from West Yorkshire, had admitted several terrorism offences [CTPNE]

A man who posted messages on social media calling for far-right violence and who owned neo-Nazi terrorism manuals has been jailed.

Tygue Joseph Crowther, 36, used X to encourage race attacks and had six banned documents, four of which he sent to someone with whom he had discussed setting up a terrorism group, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He had claimed he was a freelance investigative journalist and had the materials for legitimate reasons, but changed his pleas to guilty part-way through his trial.

Crowther, of Scholes, near Cleckheaton, admitted recklessly encouraging terrorism and possessing and disseminating terrorist publications and was jailed on Friday for four years and nine months.

Judge Robert Adams told the sentencing hearing that counter terrorism police had arrested Crowther at his home on 12 June 2024.

Officers seized items including Crowther's mobile phone, two snoods with a skull mask linked to far-right groups and a shirt with a British National Party logo.

'Tensions acute'

The judge told the court that Crowther's phone revealed he had set up an X account in October 2023 which had open settings meaning anyone could view it.

That account had 66 followers and its profile picture depicted a soldier performing a Nazi salute along with far-right slogans, references to anti-Semitic conspiracies and support for Adolf Hitler.

Crowther had posted messages that called for and encouraged terrorist violence and the "eradication of certain sections of society" and included videos glorying violence carried out by neo-Nazis.

The judge said the posts were made at a time when "tensions over immigration were acute".

Crowther had closed the X account before he was arrested, the court heard.

He had also swapped messages with another user on instant messaging app Telegram in which they discussed setting up a "battalion" and showing people "we are willing to stand up for our race no matter what", the court heard.

Crowther said it "needs to happen before it's too late" and "we need our voices heard, not just online but on the streets".

Newcastle Crown Court. An imposing building made from smooth red stone with massive black windows and tall columns along its frontage. — Crowther was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday [BBC]

The judge told the court that Crowther had sent the other Telegram user four "substantial and voluminous" terrorism publications.

They contained a wealth of information on "how to kill people and get away with it", how to prepare explosive devices and carry out terrorism attacks.

When the user received the documents, they told Crowther he was a "dangerous man" and the publications were just what they needed, the judge said.

Crowther owned six documents or "manuals" in total, which ran to hundreds of pages and gave "viable" instructions, including with "clear and easy diagrams", on how to make poisons and explosive substances, the court heard.

They also set out anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic beliefs and advised people how to film the killing of a person to maximise the horror.

The manuals called for chaos and "cruel warriors" to carry out a "race war", the court heard.

Guilty pleas

When he was arrested, Crowther told police he knew why they had come and appeared to make "frank admissions", the judge said.

But he then "resiled" on that and denied the offences, claiming he was a freelance investigative journalist, before entering guilty pleas on the eighth day of his trial, the court heard.

In mitigation, the court heard the father of four was depressed and bored after the end of a relationship and the loss of his job in a bakery shop.

There was no evidence anyone had carried out any attacks as a result of his actions, the judge said.

Meanwhile, Crowther had said the materials he had were "abhorrent" and did not reflect his true beliefs, the court heard.

Adams said it seemed "highly likely" that Crowther was trying to manipulate people and his responsibility was "not substantially reduced" by his mental health issues.

'Divide communities'

Crowther will have to serve two thirds of his prison term before he can be considered eligible for parole.

Having been deemed to be an "offender of particular concern", he will also have to serve a further year on extended licence upon his release from prison.

Following Crowther's sentencing, Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: "Viewing and sharing terrorist documents is not a victimless crime and just one document such as Crowther shared could lead to countless others being radicalised.

"The content of these kinds of publications is hateful, divisive, and they encourage others to commit violent attacks.

"Those that seek to divide our communities through sharing extremist material will be identified and brought to justice."

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Man jailed after admitting terrorism offences