A TEENAGER accused of plotting to blow up a police station to start a race war has told jurors he no longer holds his far-right extremist views after spending more than six months in custody.

Luke Skelton’s plan to blow-up a North East police station in an attempt to incite a race war was foiled after his online activities raised concern at his college.

The 18-year-old had created his own political agenda and shared his far-right views and vision online during a year-long period.

However, giving evidence in his defence at Teesside Crown Court he said he no-longer shared those ideals but admitted he was trying to get attention.

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Defence barrister Crispin Aylett QC quizzed the defendant about the contents of his online activity and whether he still held the same values.

He said: “In the evidence we heard last week, it suggests that the time between October 2020 and October 2021, you held racist, anti-Semitic, and sexist views. Did you hold such views?”

Skelton replied: “I believe I may have done.”

Mr Aylett asked: “Did you intend to commit an act of terrorism?” Skelton replied: “No.”

The barrister continued: “By which I mean causing serious violence to anyone. Were intending to hurt somebody really badly?” Skelton said: “No.”

Mr Aylett said: “Or cause serious damage to property? Were you intending to do that?” Again, he simply replied: “No.”

The Northern Echo: Forth Banks Police Station - one of the sites identified by Luke SkeltonForth Banks Police Station - one of the sites identified by Luke Skelton

The court heard how Skelton had been remanded in custody at Durham Prison since he was charged with one offence of intending to commit acts of terrorism.

Mr Aylett said: “You say that you may have held those views I described - racist, anti-Semitic, and sexist – do you still hold those views?” Skelton said: “No.”

“What has changed?” the barrister asked. “Being given time to think on them and being whipped away from them so suddenly, it gave them time to consider the opposing views and I now disagree with the views that I used to believe.”

The court heard how Skelton would post the messages on a number of social media platforms in an attempt to provoke a reaction from people but never planned to actually carry out any ‘terrorist attack’.

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When asked how he felt about the posts now, Skelton replied he was ‘ashamed’ and ‘embarrassed by them’.

Earlier in the trial, jurors heard how he shared a number of racist and abusive videos across social media networks and shared his views for around a year before he was arrested, Teesside Crown Court heard.

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 Adolf Hitler and British Fascist Oswald Mosely.

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.

Jurors heard how he took to online social media networks to share his race hate and downloaded videos of other terrorist attacks including one of Anders Breivik, a far-right terrorist who murdered 77 people in Norway in 2011.

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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