Bennett (2/9/94), of Hall Street, Offerton, pleaded guilty to three offences of distributing, showing or playing a recording intending to stir up racial hatred contrary to Section 21 of the Public Order Act 1986.
He was imprisoned for 22 months when he appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on 26/3/25 following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW).
Judge Tina Landale also ordered that two mobile phones and a computer tower containing offending material be destroyed.
Bennett posted three videos in January and February 2023 on the online platform GAB, an alternative mainstream social media platform.
The defendant was arrested on 3 April 2024 at his home address on suspicion of distributing material intending to incite racial hatred and accepted the videos he had posted were ‘threatening, abusive and insulting’.
Detective Supt Ben Cottam, senior investigating officer for CTPNW, said
GAB was founded in 2016 and launched publicly in 2017 and claims to promote free speech and individual liberty; however researchers and journalists have found that antisemitism is prominent in the site’s content.
“Bennett created a GAB account with the username @Damo94 in November 2022, where he began posting images, memes and videos which were assessed to be extremist material synonymous with a far-right mindset.
“The content of Bennett’s account was extremely threatening, abusive and insulting, and was intended to stir up racial hatred.
“During the search of his home address officers and online accounts officers found a number of leaflets supportive of a mindset promoting conspiracy theories, antisemitism, racism and extreme right-wing beliefs.
“Distribution of material inciting racial hatred, particularly on the internet and in public, has far-reaching consequences and implications, and anyone posting will be dealt with.”
We need the public’s help to stop terrorists being able to plan, prepare and carry out attacks, groom or recruit people or encourage others to carry out attacks. If you see or hear something that doesn’t feel right, report it online and in confidence at www.gov.uk/ACT. In an emergency call 999.
