Man went 2,000 miles to fight for Putin in Ukraine
41-YEAR-OLD FROM OLDHAM WHO JOINED PRO-RUSSIAN MILITIA ON FRONT LINE OF CONFLICT IS JAILED FOR TERRORISM
A MAN from Oldham who travelled 2,000 miles to fight for rebel forces in Ukraine has been jailed for terrorism.
Police began investigating Benjamin Stimson 41, after he left his home in Oldham in 2015 and travelled to Moscow, before he illegally entered war-torn eastern Ukraine.
At the time, an ugly conflict was under way between Ukrainian government forces and Vladimir Putin’s Russian-backed militia.
Stimson – whose exact reasons for joining the conflict remain unclear – was interviewed by a journalist while he was with the Donbass militia in eastern Ukraine in October 2015.
Having fought on the front line in a unit of the Russian-backed militia, he returned to the UK in November 2015 and was arrested upon his arrival at Manchester Airport. Among the items seized from him were his military clothing.
When police searched Stimson’s phone, they uncovered photographs of him holding a rifle and wearing paramilitary clothing.
In September 2016, he was charged with terrorism offences and remanded into custody.
Stimson, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one terrorism offence under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 – the intention of committing acts of terrorism and assisting acts of terrorism.
He was jailed for five years and four months, plus a one year extended licence, at Manchester Crown Court yesterday.
Speaking afterwards, Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, head of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “The images of him holding a rifle and wearing military clothing are deeply concerning.
“This case demonstrates the complex work the Counter Terrorism Unit does to stop those who commit acts of terrorism, whether that is at home or abroad.
“He has been jailed for the role he played in a violent conflict and I hope his conviction will send a message to all those who are even considering joining conflicts.”
Under UK terrorism law, it is an offence for private citizens to fight overseas regardless of the side or cause.
Earlier this year Robert Clarke, a 23-year-old former soldier from Wales, received a community order after attempting to travel to Syria to fight Isis.
It is estimated that thousands of British people may have travelled to secretly participate in the civil war in Syria – many travelling via land across the Turkish border.
But UK authorities warn that they face prosecution when they return. Any suspicious activity or behaviour can be reported to police via the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline by calling 0800 789 321. Extremist or terrorist content online can be reported at www.gov.uk/report-terrorism or via the Red STOP button.