Man sentenced for sharing Islamic State material

Mugshot of Ryan Scuffil, a 28-year-old man with pale skin, blue eyes, and blond hair. He has a blond moustache and short beard, and is wearing a white t-shirt. — Image caption,

Ryan Scuffil posted the material under a false name

A man who shared online material “glorifying acts of terrorism” in support of the Islamic State group (IS) has been given a community order.

Ryan Scuffil, from Somerset, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court in London on Monday following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing South West (CTPSW).

The 28 year old used a false name and profile to post pro-IS material over an 11-month period from September 2022.

Avon and Somerset Police said Scuffil shared “graphic images” as well as propaganda.

Officers from Avon and Somerset and CTPSW seized electronic devices when they raided his home in Norton Fitzwarren in August 2023.

Det Supt Sarah Robbins, head of CTPSW, said: “The items found on his devices clearly showed a mindset and willingness to disseminate propaganda material supportive of Islamic State, and he had set up a social media profile under another name to carry that out.”

The court was told on Monday that Scuffil had no previous convictions and received credit for an early guilty plea.

Det Supt Robbins said offences like the one committed by Scuffil were “rare”, but lead to full investigations.

“We’d like to reassure people that during the course of enquiries there was no evidence at all that Scuffil was considering or planning any sort of activity that would have directly endangered public safety,” she added.

Scuffil pleaded guilty to an offence under Section One of the Terrorism Act 2006 at Westminster Magistrates Court in May.

He was given a three-year community order on Monday and ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work.

The community order includes a rehabilitation requirement as well as ensuring Scuffil takes part in the anti-terrorism Prevent programme.