Liam Fenn, 21, from Wigan in Greater Manchester, downloaded an 'enormous' amount of material, even after receiving a 'clear warning' when he was referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism scheme
A student who downloaded extremist videos and documents which 'glorifies and encourages terrorism' has been jailed for four years and eight months.
Liam Fenn downloaded an 'enormous' amount of material, even after receiving a 'clear warning' when he was referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism scheme.
The 21-year-old, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, downloaded a number of issues of Rumiyah, an online propaganda magazine used by Islamic State, and other extremist documents.
These included advice on how to carry out acts of terror such as knife attacks, manufacturing bombs, how to create a suicide vest and how to avoid detection, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Fenn also uploaded an eight minute long video entitled 'EXPOSED, The True Path of ISIS', which featured scenes of executions, beheadings and other graphic violence.
The judge was shown the video in court during the hearing, with the court sitting in chambers without members of the public present.
Manchester Crown Court heard Fenn, who is autistic, developed a 'fascination' with Islamic extremism, converted to Islam, taught himself classical Arabic and memorised verses of the Quran.
But a judge said much of the material Fenn downloaded 'had not even passing relevance' to his interest in Islam, and ruled that he had 'at least some terrorist motivation'.
He must serve two-thirds of his sentence, and will only be released when the Parole Board deem it safe to do so.
The new laws were announced by the Government following the terror attack in Streatham, London, earlier this year.
Police became aware of Fenn when he was referred to the Prevent programme when he was 17.
Prosecutors said the referral was made due to 'comments' by Fenn, while his lawyer said the defendant was referred because he was 'vulnerable' and 'susceptible to being groomed'.
Officers went to his home in March 2017 and warned him about the dangers of downloading and looking at such material.
Fenn later said that he realised he could be detected but 'didn't care', and said he couldn't stop himself looking at it.
"The material is dangerous by its very nature," Judge Patrick Field QC told him.
"It glorifies and encourages terrorism and mass murder.
"I accept that you did not act upon it, but the risk is that someone will."
Fenn's defence team said he did not possess the material for practical purposes, and he did not share it with others.
Police found that Fenn had sent emails to the Jihadist network Al-Muhajiroun, asking about 'how best to conduct Jihad'.
When officers returned to his home on March 24 this year, they found other items included a black flag with Arabic writing, handwritten notes in Arabic, military boots and trousers and a flick knife.
Judge Field described Fenn as a 'relatively high functioning person with autism', but said his diagnosis reduced his culpability for his offending.
"I am satisfied that you have shown poor judgement and that you were drawn into this behaviour by your obsessional behaviour," the judge said.
"These are, in my judgement, direct consequences of your autism."
But the judge said Fenn knew what he was doing was wrong and that it represented 'dangerous risk taking'.
Liam Fenn was jailed on Tuesday at Manchester Crown Court for four years and eight months after pleading guilty to eight counts of possession of documents or records likely to be useful to a person preparing, or committing, an act of terrorism (section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000) and one count of encouraging acts of terrorism (section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006).
All of the offences took place between March 2018 and July 2019.
As well as the prison sentence, Fenn will be subject to an additional year of monitoring on licence when he is released, after the judge ruled he is an offender 'of particular concern'.
After the hearing, Detective Superintendent Will Chatterton, Head of Investigations at Counter Terrorism Police North West, said: "Though Fenn refused to comment throughout all of his interviews with us, the evidence we found was overwhelming and has led to him being jailed.
"I hope that this shows our absolute determination to keep people safe.
"Terrorist propaganda can be used as a tool in the radicalisation of others, it's a real and serious threat which we remain committed to tackling.
"We are committed to bringing anyone to justice who could pose a risk to the safety of our country - whatever form of extremism they are involved in."
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