Couple suspected of being neo-Nazi terrorists 'wore his-and-hers swastika jumpers'

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Jurors heard Alice Cutter (pictured), 22, and her partner Mark Jones, 24, were photographed posing in the knitwear in April last year 

A couple suspected of being neo-Nazi terrorists wore 'his-and-hers' Swastika jumpers, a court has heard.

Jurors heard Alice Cutter, 22, and her partner Mark Jones, 24, were photographed posing in the knitwear in April last year.

The engaged couple, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, have gone on trial at Birmingham Crown Court accused of being members of the banned far-right organisation National Action.

The far right-wing group was banned by the Government on December 16, 2016, following the murder of MP Jo Cox.  

The jumpers were found by police during searches of the couple's home.

The court heard officers also found Swastika earrings, Nazi memorabilia and an image of Cutter holding a gun.

In court today, prosecutor Barnaby Jameson QC outlined a series of photographs believed to have been taken on Cutter's mobile, including knives bearing a Nazi symbol.

He went on to describe an alleged image of Cutter and Jones in 'his-and-hers Swastika knitwear', and an image 'showing Jones holding what looks like a bazooka'.

He told the court: 'On the same mobile, is a shot of Jones standing by a sign saying 'warning, you area now entering Nazi Germany, beware of fanatics'.' 

The third day of the trial was told Cutter, who is alleged to have been an entrant in a 'Miss Hitler' contest in 2016, refused to answer questions after the Nazi-themed items.

Alice Cutter, 22, leaving Birmingham Crown Court where she is on trial with three others, accused of being members of the banned Neo-Nazi group National Action

The couple deny the charges alongside co-defendants Garry Jack, 23, and Connor Scothern, 18. 

The court heard National Action members also discussed killing MPs and mixed-race children on mobile phone chat groups.

Mr Jameson said: 'Inside the groups you will hear language of shocking racism and racial slurs, discussions about killing mixed race children, napalming blacks, MPs being 'Tommy Maired' and praise for the Neo-Nazi Norwegian mass murderer, Anders Brevik.

'The views expressed by Cutter are some of the most extreme of all - and entirely in keeping with the mindset of an unapologetic Nazi'.

Describing a search of the Cutter-Jones address on September 27, 2017, Mr Jameson said: 'They found National Action photographs and stickers, a Nazi flag, a body scanner, a copy of Mein Kampf, a scarf favoured by National Action members and a folding knife.'

And upon researching the address on September 5, 2018, after the arrest of Jones and Cutter, Mr Jameson told the court police found 'an image of Cutter with a gun and a picture of Hitler', among other things. 

The couple (Cutter is right) deny the charges alongside co-defendants Garry Jack, 23, and Connor Scothern (pictured left outside the court)

The court heard Jones and Cutter (pictured) become an item after she appeared in Miss Hitler 2016

The court also heard how Jones allegedly sent an anti-Islamic drawing to other far right extremists showing the Prophet Muhammed being raped by a pig.      

It heard Jones sent the image along with other offensive material via the Telegram online messaging service nine months after the group was banned. 

And Jones started deleting a number of files that were 'plainly incriminating' shortly before the first search of their home, Mr Jameson told the told. 

He said: 'What was Jones worried about, or is the answer obvious?' 

The court also heard today how Garry Jack and Connor Scothern, also on trial, were sent an email urging them to 'throw away or burn any memorabilia' following counter-terror raids.

The jury heard the 'wholly disingenuous' email was written by a man who has since been convicted of National Action membership.

Described in court as a 'masterpiece of back-covering' the message was headed 'Recent News' and read: 'I am sure you have all heard the news that 4 men have been arrested on the grounds that they are members of the terrorist organisation NA.

'I can understand any concern this will raise since some of our members are ex-NA but I don't think anyone should be worried since we are not associated with NA in any way.

'NA is a dead movement and due to the vile tweets posted by a few select members it was proscribed.'

All of the defendants deny the charges. Cutter and Scothern are pictured outside of Birmingham Crown Court

Advising several recipients to distance themselves from the banned terror group, the message added: 'Delete any affiliations you have to the group.

'Throw away or burn any memorabilia you are holding on to. If anyone is caught breaking the NA proscription or advocating for NA or even holding any NA memorabilia they will be kicked from the group.

'Stay safe and be smart. They are watching the far right's every step now and if even one of us slips up it will cost all of us. This is an all for one and one for all situation.' 

Jack and Scothern are on trial alongside Cutter and her partner Jones.

Cutter, 22, and Jones, 24, deny being members of National Action between December 2016 and September 2017.

The Crown also alleges that Jack, 23, from Shard End, Birmingham, and Scothern, 18, from Nottingham, belonged to the organisation between the same dates.

The trial continues next week. 

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