A TEENAGER who planned blow-up a police station to start a race war wrote about his admiration for far-right nationalists branded Winston Churchill a 'coward'.
Luke Skelton shared his extremist views on social media platforms in the months leading up to his plan to detonate his own explosive device in an attempt to start a race war.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the 18-year-old was caught before he could implement his scheme to blow-up a police station in Newcastle city centre.
Skelton also created a ‘final note’ explaining the reasoning behind his plan to incite a race war by launching terrorist attacks after talking of his admiration for Enoch Powell, Adolf Hitler, and British Fascist Oswald Mosely.
Jurors heard how his behaviour caught the attention of staff at Gateshead College while he was a student there and he was referred to government agency Prevent in an attempt to defuse his extremist views.
Nicholas De La Poer QC, prosecuting, took the jurors through the evidence of Skelton’s case worker known only as ‘Will’ while he was in the witness box.
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The court heard how the teenager was reluctant to talk about personal issues but believed his referral was an ‘over-reaction’ to his online activities.
The counsel was allowed to lead the witness through his evidence in an attempt to keep his answers succinct following an agreement of his defence lawyer Crispin Aylett.
Mr De La Poer said: “Did Luke Skelton speak openly about the fact he believed Winston Churchill was a traitor?” The witness replied: “He did.”
The counsel said: “Did he say that Enoch Powell was the only true right-wing politician we ever had?” The witness replied: “He did.”
He lawyer said: “Did he say it was a disgrace that people could change their gender?” The witness replied: “Yes, he did.”
“And that feminism poses dangers and women have too many rights in the work place?” Again, the witness replied: “Yes, that’s correct.”
Mr De La Poer said: “Did he say that Jewish people living in Germany leading up the start of the Second World War were part of a communist movement.” The witness replied: “Yes.”
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Earlier in the trial, the jury heard how the autistic teenager travelled to Newcastle from his Washington home to photograph one of the city’s police stations as well as creating his own ‘political-manifesto’ supporting white supremacist theories.
The defendant carried out a ‘hostile reconnaissance' of Forth Bank police station before he was arrested last September and his mobile phone and computer system were seized by counter-terrorism officers.
Skelton, of Oxclose, Washington, denies a charge of preparing to commit acts of terrorism.
The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.
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