UK far-right extremist jailed for encouraging terrorism against Jews, Muslims and migrants
A warehouse worker from Stafford has been sentenced to over five years in prison for promoting the killing of migrants and minorities in far-right Telegram groups and for sharing Anders Breivik's manifesto.
Leicester Crown Court has sentenced 46-year-old Ivan Jennings, from Stafford, to five years and three months in prison, followed by a further five years on extended licence. Jennings, a warehouse worker and father of four, pleaded guilty to encouraging terrorism through online messaging between 15 August and 14 November 2024, and to disseminating a terrorist publication — the manifesto of Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik — on 21 August that year.
Calls for violence
Prosecutor Daniel Oscroft told the court that over roughly three months, Jennings was an active member of at least seven extreme far-right groups on Telegram, including Patriotic Alternative, which he joined in early 2024. In one chat, he described killing people he labelled "subhumans" as justified and needed because "we are at war," and told another group that each person needed to "take out at least 200" migrants to stop what he called a constant influx.
The court heard Jennings was in contact with a man who wanted to use a boat to reduce the number of migrants arriving in the UK. On 22 August 2024, he searched online for motorboat charter services in Dover, and a week later commented on a boat video that such a vessel was needed to stop migrant dinghies.
He also flagged a Manchester event marking Pakistan's independence day as a target, referencing the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks that killed 51 people and saying a "bigger impact" was needed.
In a smaller group of eight participants, members discussed the most poisonous mushrooms and how to introduce them into food eaten by Jews or Muslims.
Defence and sentencing
Defence barrister Oliver Renton said Jennings had suffered deep existential fears after a cardiac arrest at work in 2023, becoming isolated and vulnerable to nihilistic worldviews. Sentencing him, Judge Lockhart KC said Jennings held "deeply held abhorrent and racist views."
