A man who kept a gun next to his bed and shared videos from a banned organisation spread misinformation about the Holocaust.
Wirral man Alan Madden, of Boundary Road, Port Sunlight, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court after being snared by a Counter Terrorism Policing North West investigation into suspected right-wing extremism material on social media. Madden had already pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to a litany of offences including dissemination of a terrorist publication, relating to the sharing of National Action material, and three counts of stirring up racial hatred.
Investigations into the 65-year-old's social media use found he had shared emails with a man called Michael Wright in 2017, where he called National Action "the real deal" for people like themselves. Liverpool Crown Court heard Madden, who was interviewed by police 18 times as part of the investigation, thought the banned far-right group were "commendable" - and added they were "youngsters trying to do something about serious issues".
READ MORE: Man kept gun next to his bed 'in case society broke down'
Between September and December 2020 Madden shared a series of videos on his BitChute account. He shared one video, labelled as "National Action propaganda" by prosecutor Simon Parry, which was narrated by a man described as a "cult-hero" of the far-right.
He continued to share material that showed speeches by Hitler - where Jewish people were referred to as "liars" and a "satanic power". Other material shared by Madden included the video of a far-right group burning the flags of Black Lives Matter, Israel and Pride, as well as copies of the Quran. He wrote that the "most precious thing you can have is your own people".
And when police raided his house on September 15 last year, books by Adolf Hitler and British fascist leader Oswald Mosley were found, as well as a manifesto by Christchurch Mosque shooter Brenton Harrison Tarrant. There was also a copy of a presentation by Madden himself called "Adolf Hitler, the Jew and Holocaust Lies". It was dated May last year and was delivered in Chester.
During the raid police uncovered a number of weapons in his house, including a Czech-made CZ Model 83, a 9mm pistol, in an unlocked box next to his bed. Mr Parry told the court the gun was a "viable weapon" and prohibited in the UK. The officers also found a quantity of prohibited hollow point ammunition, which is made to expand upon impact, and could be used in the CZ 83. In total 384 rounds were found in the house, as well as three nunchucks and a flick knife.
Madden, who was described in court as a "survivalist" and "conspiracy theorist", told officers he wasn't going to use the gun unless there was a "complete breakdown in society". He said the weapon was there to protect him and his wife as he didn't believe the government would.
Mr Parry told the court Madden had carried the weapon with him in South Africa, where he lived for nearly 50 years, and in 1984 had used it to defend himself against a robbery. Madden opened fire with the weapon and killed at least one person. He was arrested but never charged as he was deemed to have acted in self defence.
Richard Simons, defending, told the court Madden was "of good character" and had no criminal intent to use the gun. Mr Simons added the gun had also previously been lawfully owned, albeit in a different jurisdiction. Madden also claimed he kept the box padlocked - and while he "would not be able to swear by oath", added the only reason for it being unlocked was because it had just been cleaned.
It was submitted by his defence that there was minimal risk of death or serious harm from his ownership of the firearm. But Honour Judge David Aubrey KC did not accept this, as he called Madden a complex man who held "extreme right wing views and an unhealthy interest in firearms and weapons". The judge branded the content he shared as "despicable material" that was "insulting and abhorrent in its nature".
Sentencing Madden, Judge Aubrey told him: "You called National Action commendable. Nothing could be further from the truth." The judge added only an immediate custodial sentencing would suffice due to the "totality of crimes".
As well as the charges previously heard at the Old Bailey, referred to in court as the London indictment, Madden also pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm, possessing prohibited ammunition, possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate, possessing an offensive weapon in a private place and possession of a flick knife.
Madden, who appeared by video link from HMP Liverpool wearing a black jacket and glasses, was jailed for seven and a half years. The defendant will also serve an additional year on licence following his custodial sentence.
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