A man who shared videos from banned far-right organisation National Action kept a gun next to his bed in case of a "complete breakdown in society".
Wirral man Alan Madden, 65, was snared by a Counter Terrorism Policing North West investigation into suspected right-wing extremism material on social media. Madden's home on Boundary Road, Port Sunlight - which he shared with his wife - was raided by officers from the counter-terrorism unit and Merseyside Police on September 15 last year.
When police raided the house Madden was asked if he knew why, to which he replied "not really". During the raid police uncovered a number of weapons throughout the house. A Czech-made CZ Model 83, a 9mm pistol, was found in an unlocked box next to his bed.
READ MORE: Police update on M62 crash that killed 21-year-old 'dancing queen'
Simon Parry, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown 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.
The court heard Madden had owned the gun since 1983, when he lived in South Africa. He moved to the UK in 2017 - and two years later smuggled the gun over with him after a visit to South Africa. Madden placed the gun in a case along with his guitars and carried the recoil spring in his pocket. Once in the UK, Madden recommissioned the weapon into a usable firearm.
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.
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.
During the counter terrorism raid last September a Samsung mobile phone and two laptops were also seized. Mr Parry told the court police also found books by Adolf Hitler and British fascist leader Oswald Mosley in Madden's house, as well as a manifesto by Christchurch Mosque shooter Brenton Harrison Tarrant. Police also found 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.
Investigations into Madden'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. The court heard Madden, who was interviewed by police 18 times, thought the banned far-right group were "commendable" - and added they were "youngsters trying to do something about serious issues". He also knew the group were banned - and admitted to police the sharing of their material was "naughty".
Between September and December 2020 Madden shared a series of videos on his BitChute account. He shared a video, labelled as "National Action propaganda" by Mr 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". Honour Judge David Aubrey KC branded the content he shared as "despicable material" that was "insulting and abhorrent in its nature".
Madden, who previously appeared before the Old Bailey on March 31 where he pleaded guilty to dissemination of a terrorist publication and three counts of stirring up racial hatred, said his sharing of material was "reckless".
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 the judge 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".
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.
READ NEXT:
Warning issued as woman becomes stuck in the mud at beauty spot
Woman found dead on railway tracks after police called to station
Illegal and dangerous parking has become 'normalised' in Merseyside
Fire service confirm cause of 'explosion' that shook houses
Matalan's 'show-stopping' £27 summer dress that 'looks expensive'
