Neo-Nazi organiser could be set free in upcoming parole hearing

Neo-Nazi organiser for banned terror group National Action who posed with the group’s flag in Buchenwald execution room could be set free in upcoming parole hearing

• Mark Jones received a five-and-a-half year sentence for being a member of far-Right banned terror group National Action

A neo-nazi who was the driving force behind the banned terrorist group National Action has a parole hearing and could be the last of his ‘diehard’ comrades to be released from prison.

The then 25-year-old, originally the group’s London regional organiser, acknowledged posing for a photograph while delivering a Nazi-style salute and holding an NA flag in Buchenwald’s execution room during a trip to Germany in 2016.

Mark Jones received a five-and-a half year sentence, the longest of the four convicted NA members. His hearing in October will be his first appeal before the Parole Board.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: ‘An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Mark Jones and is scheduled to take place in October 2023.

‘Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

Mark Jones (pictured) was known as ‘Grand Daddy Terror’ among the banned terrorist group National Action

Mark Jones received a five-and-a-half year sentence at Birmingham Crown Court in 2020

Pictured: Members of the banned terrorist group National Action which has been labelled a ‘racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organisation’ by then Home Secretary Amber Rudd

‘A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

‘Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

What is National Action?

Nation Action is a neo-Nazi group that was established in 2013 and has branches across the UK.

In 2016, it became the first extreme right-wing group to be banned in the UK.

 Under the Terrorism Act 2000, being a member of the organisation will be a criminal offence, carrying a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

 The group mainly used social media to push propaganda material, which regularly featured violent imagery and language.

‘Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.

‘The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.

‘Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.

After the ban, Jones was one of the senior figures who received instructions from de facto leader Christopher Lythgoe that National Action was ‘just shedding one skin for another’ and would continue underground.

Jones, described as a ‘National Action die-hard’ in court, was a leading figure with connections to international neo-Nazi groups in the US, Ukraine and Lithuania.

He called himself ‘Grandaddy Terror’ in a chat group on the encrypted Telegram app that was reserved for National Action’s co-founder and regional leaders.

Jones met new National Action recruits and created neo-Nazi artwork for the group, as well as spin-offs Scottish Dawn and NS131, which were later banned.

The engineer, who grew up in foster care amid a backdrop of domestic violence against his mother, also organised members’ physical training including boxing sessions in Swindon.

Judge Farrer said he attended post-proscription meetings where leaders planned how National Action would survive.

Jones (pictured) could get an early release from prison, following a hearing in front of the Parole Board in October

Neo-Nazi Alice Cutter served 26-months of a three year sentence for being part of the far-Right group National Action

Cutter (pictured) and her ex-fiance Mark Jones were said to sport ‘his-and-hers swastika knitwear’ and had a collection of Nazi paraphernalia

If successful in his parole bid , Jones will join former girlfriend Alice Cutter, now 25, back on the streets. She was granted her freedom on licence in October last year. The neo-Nazi beauty queen had served just 26-months of a three year sentence.

The trial heard that Cutter, who entered the Miss Hitler beauty contest as Miss Buchenwald – a reference to the Nazi concentration camp – had lived with Jones in Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax in West Yorkshire.

READ MORE: Britain’s ‘Biggest Nazi’ is shown proudly making Hitler salute in Buchenwald death camp as the National Action founder is convicted of being member of banned far right group 

The court was told the evil pair sported ‘his-and-hers swastika knitwear’ and had a collection of Nazi paraphernalia, knuckle dusters, knives and other weapons.

MailOnline can also reveal that fellow fanatic Garry Jack, now 27, who served just 32-months of a four-and-a-half year sentence, was told by a Parole Board in December 2022 that he would be freed on licence.

Jack, then 24, admitted with another man they were ‘committed and unapologetic’ members of National Action. However, he claimed to have quit the organisation before it was proscribed.

Jack wrote a letter to the judge stating: ‘I have turned my back on the far right.’

Jack, of Birmingham, had attended almost every meeting of NA’s Midlands sub-group, it emerged during the trial. He has been released.

Connor Scothern, now 22, who got 18-months, was turned down for parole after a hearing in October 2020. However, MailOnline understands that he was automatically released from prison at the end of his sentence.

Cutter (pictured) met Jones after posing for an online Miss Hitler competition run by the proscribed far-Right group – under the name The Buchenwald Princess

Mugshots of both Jack and Scothern who found guilty of being part of the banned terrorist group National Action

At the trial, Scothern, from Nottingham, was referred to as ‘one of the most active members of the group’ who was ‘considered future leadership material’.

Prosecutor Barnaby Jameson QC said they (the four) were part of a ‘fellowship of hate’ who continued to further National Action’s aims after it was banned.

He said the ‘tiny, secretive group of die-hard neo-Nazis’ were prepared to achieve their goals with terrorism, including the cleansing of Jews, ethnic minorities, gay people and liberals.

‘The ultimate aim of the group was all-out race war,’ Mr Jameson said. ‘Members of National Action were equipping themselves with weapons and the ability to produce explosives.’

‘They share a real toxic extreme ideology which is a danger to the public, the same ideology that we have seen manifested in the tragic attack in New Zealand, the murder of Jo Cox MP and the attack at Finsbury Park mosque in 2017.

‘This group was amassing weapons and recipes for bomb-making. They communicated through secret channels to recruit others to their cause. Left unchecked they presented a real threat to the public.’

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