A 20-year-old man from Honiton has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison after being convicted of terrorism offences linked to the possession and distribution of extreme right-wing material.

Tobias Gleed, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday, 17 April, following a detailed investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing South West (CTPSW). His case marks a significant success in the UK’s ongoing efforts to combat online radicalisation and domestic extremism.

The Investigation

Gleed was arrested in September 2022 after intelligence gathered by CTPSW uncovered his involvement in sharing extremist content online. Officers seized several digital devices during the arrest, which revealed a large cache of far-right terrorist publications.

The investigation found that Gleed was actively disseminating this content via encrypted messaging platforms, promoting ideologies designed to radicalise others. His offences breached multiple sections of the Terrorism Acts of 2000 and 2006, underscoring the gravity of his actions.

Charges and Conviction

Gleed was convicted on eight terrorism-related charges:

• 4 counts of possessing documents likely to be useful for terrorism
• 2 counts of distributing terrorist publications
• 2 counts of providing services enabling access to terrorist content

These charges reflected the breadth of his activity and the potential danger posed by the material he shared.

Sentencing and Conditions

Gleed was sentenced to five years and six months in prison, of which he must serve at least two-thirds. Upon release, he will be subject to a 12-month licence period and a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO) to restrict and monitor his activities.

Detective Superintendent Sarah Robbins, Head of CTPSW, praised her team and highlighted the significance of the conviction:

“Gleed represents a threat to our communities, and the impact of his offences—including the influence of the content he shared—cannot be underestimated. Our officers worked tirelessly to ensure justice was served.”

What You Can Do

Authorities are encouraging the public to remain vigilant. Anyone who sees suspicious behaviour or is concerned about radicalisation is urged to report it through the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) website or by calling 999 in emergencies.

For more information on spotting signs of radicalisation and reporting concerns, visit: gov.uk/ACT.