A convicted neo-Nazi leader from Yorkshire has been released from jail following a parole hearing.

Mark Jones, 29, from Sowerby Bridge, was jailed for five-and-a-half years in June 2020 and has served three-and-a-half years of his sentence. He was sentenced for being a key member of neo-Nazi group National Action, reports the Daily Mail.

It comes after a parole hearing on October 2 and him being told he would be released on licence. This includes a number of strict conditions.

Read More: West Yorkshire Police seize 163 knives with 60 arrested

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice told the Daily Mail: “Terrorist offenders face some of the strictest supervision on release and will be recalled swiftly to prison if they breach their licence conditions.”

The Parole Board said the decisions made by the board “solely focused on” the “risk” a prisoner could present to the public following release. They said they examined a “huge range of evidence” to make their decision.

A picture alleged to show Mark Jones wearing swastika-related clothing, which was shown to the jury at Birmingham Crown Court
A picture alleged to show Mark Jones wearing swastika-related clothing, which was shown to the jury at Birmingham Crown Court
(Image: West Midlands Police/PA Wire)

It has been reported his release was recommended despite him refusing to undertake work to back up jail programmes designed to address his extremism. The Parole Board report said: “Evidence was presented at the hearing regarding Mr Jones’ progress and custodial conduct during this sentence.

“He had undertaken an accredited programme to address extremist offending and ways of disengaging. Witnesses noted that Mr Jones had not been prepared to engage with further work to help consolidate and explore his learning from the accredited programme.

“Mr Jones had not believed that this would benefit him.”

The report added there were “no significant concerns” about his behaviour. They said the “outstanding work” could be completed in the community and he would be “compelled to do this” under the terms of his release.

They added: “In this case, protective factors which would reduce the risk of reoffending were considered to be his positive work ethic, his determination to avoid a return to prison and the support he has from his family.

A picture shown to a jury at Birmingham Crown Court which is alleged to show Mark Jones, 24, and another man posing for a photograph while giving a Nazi salute in the execution room at the site of the Buchenwald nazi death camp in Germany
A picture shown to a jury at Birmingham Crown Court which is alleged to show Mark Jones, 24, and another man posing for a photograph while giving a Nazi salute in the execution room at the site of the Buchenwald nazi death camp in Germany
(Image: West Midlands Police/PA Wire)

However, the decision was made despite the witnesses at his hearing not supporting the move. The report added: “Witnesses did not support release in this case, being concerned about risk and the likelihood of Mr Jones’ engagement with professionals.

“The panel noted that Mr Jones had largely engaged with what had been expected of him in prison.”

After, the report says the release plan included requirements to reside in “designated” housing and placed restrictions on his “contacts, movements and activities”. The parole board judged the plan was “robust” enough to manage him in the community.

It added: “The panel noted that the identified risk of physical violence or of planning and executing terrorist acts was low in this case.

“After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public.”

Now, Mark Jones will have to live at a designated place, be subject to a curfew, wear a GPS tag, be subject to lie detector tests and will be prevented from contacting other ex members of National Action.

During his trial in 2020, it was said that Mark Jones was a “leader and strategist” who played a “prominent and active role” in National Action. The group included his girlfriend, who was known as ‘Miss Hitler’.


Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
Yorkshire

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Shannen Doherty admits there are ‘a lot of people’ she doesn’t want at her funeral amid cancer battle

Shannen Doherty knows exactly what she wants … and doesn’t want. The…

Audience erupts in applause when Dr. Phil schools ‘The View’ hosts about COVID lockdowns and school children: ‘That’s a fact’

Dr. Phil McGraw educated the hosts of “The View” on Monday about…

Pom Klementieff One of Her Boyfriends Were Very Private – Facts about Her Dating Life

Pom Klementieff received global fame following her role as Mantis in the…

Jeff Bridges’ Grandkids Call Him ‘Dude-Pa’ ‘Dudie’ — He Plays Guitar, Reads Books Does Hair with Them

Jeff Bridges had three kids with his wife, and he loved them…