Man denies amassing armoury of weapons and trying to whip up pandemic uprising
Paul Martin, 60, appeared in court on Friday charged with encouraging terrorism, possessing articles for the purposes of terrorism, and possessing a stun gun.
It is alleged that Martin, of Suffolk Road, Croydon, posted some 16,000 messages in a Telegram group called 'The Resistance UK' under the username 'Perpetual Truth'.
Between December 15 2020 and September 29 2021, he allegedly discussed gathering a militia and weapons and attacking members of government and police.
At the same time, Martin allegedly possessed a dagger, a knife, two crossbows and arrows which gave rise to a reasonable suspicion that he intended to use them for the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorist acts.
He is also charged with possessing a weapon on September 28 2021 that discharged a noxious liquid, gas or other thing, namely a stun gun.
The bearded and bespectacled defendant, who wore his long grey hair in a ponytail, confirmed his identity during the Old Bailey hearing before Judge Richard Marks KC.
He went on to plead not guilty to all three charges against him.
Martin, who is on conditional bail, faces a two-week trial from October 13 at the same court.
Click below to see the latest London headlines
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Reveller took huge bite out of man's ear in random Pink nightclub attack
Reveller Thomas Cotterill bit off half of a man's ear in an unprovoked attack on a night out in Hanley. The 30-year-old was drinking in Pink nightclub, in Stafford Street, when he 'randomly' sunk his teeth into his victim's ear. The assault was captured on CCTV at 4am on March 31 last year. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the victim required surgery to try to repair the injury, although he was only left with half an ear. In a victim impact statement, the victim detailed how he's now riddled with anxiety, affecting his relationship with his children, friends and family members. READ MORE: 'I don't want to go to jail' - Hammer-wielding scaffolder pleads to avoid prison READ MORE: Five Guys to open first Stoke-on-Trent restaurant Barry White, prosecuting, said: 'The victim was in complete shock and couldn't remember what happened or why it happened. He had surgery and received a number of stitches to his ear and skin grafts.' Cotterill, of Victory Crescent, Cheadle, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm. Catherine O'Reilly, mitigating, said: 'The defendant is at a loss of what happened that night, he cannot put forward any explanation. "He was under the influence of alcohol and he has been transparent about that. Without analysing his behaviour which he accepts is shocking, he cannot put forward an explanation. "His behaviour worsens when in alcohol and believes this could be the reason for his manner, but that is speculation. He has a strong desire to make amends and has self referred himself to anger management. 'He rarely drinks or socialises and has made significant changes to his life to make sure he's not in a position where he might act like this again. He is incredibly highly thought of by a number of people.' Cotterill was sentenced to three years imprisonment. Judge Graeme Smith told him: 'You know why you are standing where you are today. At 4am on March 31 2024 an incident occurred which seems to have had no obvious provocation, which resulted in you biting off half of the victim's ear. Witnesses say the attack came from nowhere. 'We are at a loss of why this happened, firstly because you were intoxicated by alcohol and secondly, you were hypervigilant and seem to have forgotten what happened. This has had a physical and mental effect on the victim which we have heard in his personal impact statement.' Get all the latest news from court here A 30-year-old man has been sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm. Thomas Cotterill, of Victory Crescent, bit off half of another man's ear on a night out. The Cheadle man was drinking in Pink nightclub, in Stafford Street, Hanley, when he randomly attacked his victim. The incident, which took place on March 31 last year, was caught on CCTV footage. The victim required surgery to somewhat repair his ear, although he was only left with half an ear. In a victim impact statement, the victim detailed how he's now riddled with anxiety, affecting his relationship with his children, friends and family members. Barry White, prosecuting the case, said: 'The victim was in complete shock and couldn't remember what happened or why it happened. He had surgery and received a number of stitches to his ear and skin grafts.' Catherine O'Reilly, mitigating, said: 'The defendant is at a loss of what happened that night, he cannot put forward any explanation. He was under the influence of alcohol and he has been transparent about that. Without analysing his behaviour which he accepts is shocking, he cannot put forward an explanation. '[His behaviour worsens when in alcohol and believes this could be the reason for his manner, but that is speculation. He has a strong desire to make amends and has self referred himself to anger management. 'He rarely drinks or socialises and has made significant changes to his life to make sure he's not in a position where he might act like this again. He is incredibly highly thought of by a number of people.' Cotterill was sentenced to three years imprisonment. His Honour Judge Graeme Smith said: 'You know why you are standing where you are today. At 4am on March 31 2024 an incident occurred which seems to have had no obvious provocation, which resulted in you biting off half of the victim's ear. Witnesses say the attack came from nowhere. 'We are at a loss of why this happened, firstly because you were intoxicated by alcohol and secondly, you were hypervigilant and seem to have forgotten what happened. This has had a physical and mental effect on the victim which we have heard in his personal impact statement.' Get all the latest news from court here
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'I'm here to tell the story for those who are not'
Thelma Stober was one of the hundreds of people affected by the London bombings of 7 July 2005, in which she lost a leg. But standing by the memorial in Hyde Park, her thoughts are not on her losses but the 52 people who did not survive. Ms Stober was on the Tube at Aldgate station when one of four coordinated suicide bombs detonated during the morning rush hour. She lost her lower left leg among other life-changing injuries. Now, 20 years later, she said: "Although I lost parts of my body, I am still here to tell the story, to represent those who are not". "I'm reflecting on my life before 7/7 and my life after. "I was on the train later than usual because I had taken my son to nursery as I had promised him. "Then as I was walking towards the platform [at Moorgate station], I saw a train and I ran for it. So I went into the carriage that I would not normally go into. "Consequently, I was on the wrong train the wrong time." The day before the attacks, Ms Stober remembered as "momentous" and "incredibly happy", as London celebrated winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As a senior lawyer, she had worked on the bid. She had originally planned to take the next day off, but changed her mind due to the workload. Ms Stober was "completely unaware" she was standing next to a man with a rucksack who would turn out to be one of the four bombers, Shehzad Tanweer. When the bomb detonated, she was thrown onto the tracks, partly underneath the train with a piece of the train door impaled in her right thigh and left foot twisted backwards. When she began seeing rescuers in yellow and orange jackets approaching, she shouted: "Help me, help me. I'm alive. I don't want to die." "I was thinking of my son, my mother, my husband. "And I worked so hard on the Olympics - I wanted to get back to continue my work on the Olympics." Ms Stober said the memory of that day is still "vividly clear". "If I could have amnesia permanently to eliminate everything about the incidents, I would." She suffered significant injuries, internally to her liver and stomach and externally her lower left leg - and nearly lost her right arm. She has complete loss in her left ear and a percentage loss in her right. After years of suffering from persistent headaches that she put down to migraines, Ms Stober discovered at a scan in 2019 that she had shrapnel in her brain, which now requires annual monitoring. "I remember being in the hospital and they were not sure whether I would be alive and my mother, who was deeply religious, wrote to every Bishop in the country, including the Pope," she said. Ms Stober said the ordeal brought out her "inner resilience". "The whole idea of the attack was to destroy individuals and communities. I wasn't going to let that happen." She channelled her experience into supporting survivors and shaping policy. She co-chairs the Grenfell Memorial Commission and advises governments and the United Nations on survivor-led disaster preparedness. 7/7: Thelma's longest journey 'The 7/7 London bombings made me feel helpless' Surviving the 7/7 London bombings 20 years on Ms Stober said there is a "mixed feelings" as she looks back on the attack and the 20 years since. "There is anxiety. There is sadness because 52 people lost their lives," she says. "It's not something I would've wished on anyone but looking back now, I have been involved with so many positive things that I would not have been involved in if it wasn't for 7/7." "I'm glad I'm alive to do what I do." Coverage of events marking the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 terror attacks begins at 8:00 BST on the BBC News website and BBC Radio London. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Safe space for women to open in Scarborough to provide vital support
A new safe space for women is being launched to offer specialist support in Scarborough. The Women's Centre will officially open later this month, providing a women-only environment for those in Scarborough and nearby coastal areas. It aims to support women with multiple unmet needs, those who have experienced trauma, and those at risk of involvement with the criminal justice system. Jo Coles, deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime, said: "The Mayor and I are determined to tackle the levels of violence against women and girls in our region and to deliver safe places for all. "This new Women's Centre will deliver a step change in the support available to women in Scarborough and the surrounding area." Modelled on the successful York Women's Centre, the new facility will offer one-to-one and group support in a holistic, trauma-informed setting. It will also provide practical amenities including a kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities.
