Three British men who formed part of an extreme right-wing online group have been sentenced to a combined 29 years in prison for plotting terrorist attacks that targeted mosques, Islamic education centres, and synagogues across the United Kingdom. The sentencing, delivered at Sheffield Crown Court on October 17, 2025, follows a lengthy investigation and trial that exposed the men’s deep-seated hatred and their chilling preparations for violence.
The three men—Brogan Stewart, 25, from Tingley; Marco Pitzettu, 26, from Derby; and Christopher Ringrose, 35, from Cannock—were found guilty in May 2025 of preparing acts of terrorism and collecting information likely to be useful for terrorism. Ringrose faced an additional conviction for manufacturing a prohibited weapon, having 3D-printed most of the components of a semi-automatic firearm and actively seeking the remaining parts at the time of his arrest in February 2024, according to The Times Kuwait and London & UK Street News.
Prosecutors revealed that the trio, who had never met in person before their arrest, were united by a shared extreme right-wing Nazi ideology. They idolized Adolf Hitler and notorious perpetrators of mass violence, expressing admiration in hundreds of messages exchanged on platforms like Telegram and Facebook. In one such group, ominously named "Einsatz 14," the men discussed not only their hatred for Muslims and immigrants but also violent fantasies, including the murder of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the torture of imams, as reported by The Times of Israel.
Jonathan Sandiford KC, the lead prosecutor, described the men as “followers of an extreme right-wing Nazi ideology.” He told the court, “They justified, encouraged and glorified serious violence against and killing of persons of other races (who were) effectively seen as inferior and unworthy of human dignity or indeed life.” Sandiford further detailed how each defendant had expressed a willingness to engage in violence against those they perceived as enemies and had actively sought to recruit others to their cause by early 2024.
The court heard that by January and February 2024, the group was planning their first attack, targeting an Islamic education centre in Leeds. This was intended to be “the first of a number of operations escalating in nature,” according to Sandiford. The men had amassed an arsenal of more than 200 weapons, including machetes, swords, crossbows, riot shields, body armour, and an illegal stun gun. They were also actively seeking to acquire firearms and improvised explosives, the prosecution said.
Security services, alarmed by the group’s escalating plans and their efforts to recruit additional members, infiltrated the online group. Undercover officers gathered evidence that led to the trio’s arrest in February 2024, just as authorities believed an attack was imminent. The subsequent nine-week trial featured disturbing evidence, including the group’s messages glorifying mass murderers and their detailed plans for violence, as reported by BBC and The Times Kuwait.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, the defendants pleaded not guilty, with their defense arguing that the online conversations were “pure fantasy” and nothing more than “harmless chat.” Sultana Tafadar KC, representing Stewart, cited his history of childhood abuse and trauma as a mitigating factor, while Ringrose’s counsel argued he had withdrawn from the group before the arrests. However, the jury rejected these claims, finding all three guilty of the charges brought against them.
Judge Johannah Cutts handed down the sentences: Stewart received 11 years in custody with an additional eight years on extended licence, Ringrose was sentenced to 10 years in custody with five years extended licence, and Pitzettu was given eight years in custody with five years extended licence. All three men are subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO) for five years following their release, as noted by London & UK Street News.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, commented after the sentencing: “Stewart, Pitzettu, and Ringrose have today been rightfully convicted of multiple terrorism offences. They were a group that espoused vile racist views and advocated for violence, all to support their extreme right-wing mindset. Some of their defence in court was that it was all fantasy or just part of harmless chat, however all three took real world steps to plan and prepare for carrying out an attack on innocent citizens.”
Dunkerley emphasized the importance of collaboration in preventing terrorist acts, stating, “Due to excellent collaborative work with our partners, we were able to infiltrate the group and arrest them before anyone was harmed. Counter Terrorism Policing work around the clock to prevent terrorism reaching our communities and we constantly advance our capabilities so that groups like this cannot hide. The public’s support is vital to our mission to keep people safe. If you hear or see anything that doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and report it in confidence at gov.uk/ACT. You won’t be wasting our time. In an emergency, always call 999.”
Bethan David, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, echoed these concerns, stating, “These extremists were plotting violent acts of terrorism against Synagogues, Mosques and Islamic Education Centres. By their own admission, they were inspired by SS tactics and supremacist ideology. Had Christopher Ringrose managed to completely finish building the 3-D printed semi-automatic firearm that he had started to, it could have been used leading to devastating consequences.”
David also highlighted the prosecution’s reliance on digital evidence: “The prosecution case against the defendants included their disturbing Telegram and Facebook chats as well as acquiring military equipment such as riot shields, body armour and an arsenal of weapons found at their home addresses that were to be used in readiness for a ‘race war’. We worked closely with Counter Terrorism Policing North East to prepare a strong case against the defendants, and the jury has today convicted them of their crimes. Extremism is a threat to our society and we will always aim to keep communities safe by seeking to prosecute anyone who prepares for acts of terrorism.”
The convictions have reignited debate in the UK over the growing threat of far-right extremism and the role of digital platforms in facilitating the spread of hate and the coordination of violent plots. Authorities have warned that while online forums can provide a sense of anonymity, law enforcement is increasingly adept at tracking and infiltrating these networks before plans can be put into action.
As the dust settles from this high-profile trial, communities across the UK are left to grapple with the sobering reality that the threat of ideologically motivated violence remains ever-present, and that vigilance, collaboration, and swift action are essential in preventing tragedy.
