Three men who helped a Cardiff teenager join Islamic State in Syria have been jailed for a combined 15-and-a-half years years.
The trio, who helped Aseel Muthana flee his home and follow his older brother to join the terrorist group, were jailed by Judge Rebecca Poulet QC at the Old Bailey.
Aspiring radiologist Kristen Brekke, 20, from Cardiff, has been locked up for four-and-a-half years after he bought combat clothes for Aseel Muthana on eBay and helped him to plot his journey from the UK to Syria in what the judge called an act of "misguided friendship".
Muthana was just 17 when he left his home in February 2014 to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Nasser in becoming an Isis fighter.
His older brother, who he idolised, had travelled there with four other young men from Cardiff three months before, the court heard.
Nasser later achieved “notoriety” when he and other young men made a propaganda video for IS called There Is No life Without Jihad which was released in June 2014.
Brekke made friends with the younger Muthana when they worked together at Ice Cream Passion in Cardiff.
During his trial Brekke told jurors he was "totally against" jihad.
'Waiting in the wings
During his sentencing hearing the court heard how Brekke had been so stressed by the case he had suffered from hair loss and his hopes of becoming a radiologist had been all but dashed.
Brekke, along with co-defendants Adeel Ulhaq and Forhad Rahman, were all found guilty of preparing for acts of terrorism. Ulhaq was also convicted of entering into or becoming concerned in a terrorist funding arrangement.
Ulhaq was jailed for six years while Rahman was sentenced to five years.
Jailing them, Judge Poulet said: “These acts of preparation were clear and determined and in my judgment they suggested certainly you, Rahman and Ulhaq, were waiting in the wings to assist anyone ready to travel to Syria.”
Rahman and Ulhaq were sentenced to five years for the preparation of terrorist acts with Ulhaq receiving a further 12 months for terrorism funding.
'Violent extremism'
The three were jailed following a lengthy police investigation called Operation Ardeb.
The investigation discovered that, collectively, all three of the offenders assisted Muthana in a variety of ways including research into travelling to war-torn countries and purchasing items such as a passport, flights to Cyprus and military clothing.
The investigation involved officers from Counter Terrorism Units in the North West (NWCTU) and North East (NECTU), the Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU), and Nottinghamshire Police.
South Wales Police assistant chief constable Jon Stratford said: “Today’s sentence shows that those who support a terrorist organisation will be brought to justice.
“This was a complex, difficult case that shows our officers’ determination to ensure that there is no place for those who assist terrorists in Britain.
“Everybody has a responsibility for spotting the early signs of radicalisation and stopping young people thinking of travelling to Syria.
“We work in partnership with community members and groups to do this and want to reassure loved ones and friends that, through raising concerns at an early stage, we can help protect those who are potentially vulnerable or showing signs of an interest in violent extremism.
“Police would rather make sure people are put on the right path before they commit a crime than arrest them because they have broken the law.”
Nottinghamshire Police and the North East CTU’s investigation showed that Ulhaq had sent money to an Islamic State fighter in Syria and had participated in fundraising for Syrian aid.
Force deputy chief constable Peter Goodman said: “Ulhaq sent money to a foreign fighter overseas and was using his own social media account to raise funds for Syria.
“Ulhaq was also in contact with the others involved in this case offering advice in online discussions with Muthana, demonstrating knowledge about crossing borders, and armed conflict in Syria.”
The Charity Commission later froze his account and paid the money he had raised to a suitable registered charity.
Imitation gun
Opening the trial, Annabel Darlow QC said: “The prosecution say that each of the three young men in the dock, in their different ways, assisted Aseel Muthana, the younger brother, to make his journey to Syria to join Islamic State.
“By so doing, we allege, they each committed the terrorism offences with which they are charged.”
Muslim convert Brekke, from Pentre Street, Grangetown , carried out internet research for Muthana and allowed the teenager to use his computer.
The prosecution said Brekke was well aware of Muthana’s aim and cited evidence of a homemade video of the pair posing with an imitation gun near Cardiff.
Brekke gave a variety of explanations for his stash of gear, including claims they were impulse buys and he was preparing for a camping trip to the Brecon Beacons.
Muthana became fast friends with Rahman online and sent him the video clip from nearCardiff Bay in which he proclaimed: “If you are watching this, I’m probably dead or I’m probably a legend or something.”
Rahman, 21, from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, helped Muthana, now 19, get a passport and paid for his flight as well as coach ticket to Gatwick.
He put him in touch with Ulhaq for travel advice, jurors were told.
'Radical ideology'
Rahman, an Addison Lee call centre worker, had an interest in Islamic extremist material and frequently expressed a strong interest in travelling to Syria himself, the trial heard.
Ulhaq, 21, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, provided “valuable advice” in online discussions demonstrating a “great deal of knowledge” about the armed conflict in Syria, the court heard.
He never met Muthana in person while Rahman, who was living in London at the time, developed a bond with the teenager in internet chat and only met him face to face less than two months before he went to Syria.
There was no evidence Brekke knew the other two defendants.
Ms Darlow said: “All three defendants shared with each other and Aseel Muthana the same highly radical Islamic ideology and support for those waging armed conflict in pursuance of that ideology in Syria.”
Brekke along with Rahman, of Cranhams Lane, Chesterton, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, and Ulhaq, of Westbourne Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, had denied all charges.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/trio-jailed-helping-cardiff-teenager-10870374
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