1. West Country
  2. 6 updates

Convicted Dorset terrorist loses appeal

A radical Muslim from Dorset convicted of terror offences has lost an appeal against his extended sentence. White Muslim convert Richard Dart was jailed for six years for plotting a terror attack in Royal Wootton Bassett with two other men.

Live updates

Dorset terrorist loses appeal over extended sentence

Richard Dart's appeal against his extended sentence has failed Credit: Metropolitan Police

A radical Muslim from Dorset convicted of terror offences has lost an appeal against his extended sentence.

Richard Dart was sentenced to additional monitoring in the community after serving a six year jail term. Along with two other men, Dart had planned to attack Royal Wootton Bassett. The trio argued the punishment was unfair.

  1. National

Dart case shows 'how terrorists live in our midst'

These are dangerous men. Mahmood had received terrorist training in Pakistan and suggested he had knowledge of how to make home made explosives while Dart and Alom made great efforts to travel to Pakistan and aspired to seek training from terrorist groups there.

They all were clearly aware of anti-surveillance techniques as shown by the use of silent conversations and expressed a desire to carry out terrorist attacks.

This was a complex investigation carried out jointly by the Counter Terrorism Command and the Security Service but mixture of dedicated, diligent traditional detective work combined with the latest technology and computer techniques brought these men to justice and made the public safer.

This case serves as a classic example of how terrorists live in our midst while preparing their acts and their determination to travel overseas to train before returning to the UK.

It also illustrates the balance we need to achieve between maintaining public safety while gathering sufficient evidence to secure a conviction while maintaining the confidence of all our communities.

– Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Osborne, Senior National Co-ordinator Counter Terrorism

Advertisement

  1. National

Terror plot trio 'had not ruled out UK attack'

Mahmood and Dart were both given extended sentences and will serve two-thirds of their prison terms rather than half, and will spend five years on licence.

Dart refused to stand when he was sentenced, saying: "I don't wish to stand up, I believe ruling and judging is only for Allah."

The judge said that they were all "committed fundamentalists" who would have been prepared to kill.

He told Dart and Mahmood:

I'm satisfied to the required criminal standard that neither of you had ruled out an attack in the United Kingdom, and that you, Mahmood, were looking at arming yourself with a bomb.

  1. National

British extremist jailed for nine years

Three British Islamic extremists including a white Muslim convert and a former police community support officer have been jailed for terrorism.

Richard Dart, Jahangir Alom and Imran Mahmood, were sentenced at the Old Bailey for engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism.

Richard Dart, who changed his name to Salahuddin al-Britani, Jahangir Alom and Imran Mahmood. Credit: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

Dart was jailed for six years, Alom for four years and six months and Mahmood for nine years and nine months.

Mr Justice Simon told the trio they held "radical Islamist beliefs and have shown yourselves to be committed to acts of terrorism".

They admitted the offence between July 2010 and July last year at a previous hearing last month.

  1. National

Dorset-born Muslim convert filmed preaching in street

  • Police recovered fragments of text from Richard Dart's laptop which referred to Wootton Bassett
  • Dart changed his name to Salahuddin al-Britani and became involved in extremism after moving from his home town Weymouth in Dorset to east London
  • His beliefs were brought into the spotlight as part of a television documentary "My Brother the Islamist" made by his step brother Robb Leech
  • In the film he was seen preaching in the street, attending extremist lectures

Advertisement

Back to top