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Trio tried bringing ‘extremist’ material into jail
Three people have been sentenced over a conspiracy to smuggle mobile phones, Sim cards and USB sticks containing violence-encouraging sermons into HMP Lindholme near Doncaster. Rhea Wood, Mohammed Abdo and serving prisoner Abdullah Mohammed attempted the smuggling in May 2023 but were caught by prison staff, and the case has been highlighted by counter-terrorism police and the prisons minister as evidence that such attempts will be detected and prosecuted.
Wood, 36, and Mohammed, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiring to bring a prohibited article into a prison and were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, with Mohammed receiving 18 months suspended for two years. Abdo, 36, had already been given 15 months in December for the same charge. Wood, who was already serving a sentence for disseminating ISIS propaganda via Pinterest, received a further 18 months to run concurrently, plus a 10-year terrorism notification order on release. Counter Terrorism Policing North East said the eight USB sticks and other devices contained "extreme, violent and divisive" material alongside personal photos and details.
In short
- Trio sentenced for smuggling extremist material into HMP Lindholme
- Attempt intercepted by prison staff in May 2023
- Wood also handed 10-year terrorism notification order
Explained simply
HMP Lindholme is a prison near Doncaster. In May 2023, three people attempted to smuggle mobile phones, SIM cards and USB sticks containing violent sermons into the prison, which prison staff intercepted.
The material on the devices was described as "extreme, violent and divisive" content intended to encourage violence. Authorities have highlighted this case as evidence of attempts to spread such material within prisons, which they consider a security concern.
The three people involved were Rhea Wood, 36, Mohammed Abdo, 36, and Abdullah Mohammed, 33, who was already serving a prison sentence. They have now been prosecuted and received sentences, with Wood having a previous conviction for spreading extremist propaganda online.