A Dewsbury businessman convicted of an offence under the Terrorism Act for making notes about Mujahideen training has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Adeel Amjad, 35, was unanimously found guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court in October of possessing a record containing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

The handwritten notes titled Commander of Mujahideen were in a notebook discovered in a wardrobe in his bedroom during a police search of his home in Headfield Road, Savile Town on November 5, 2013.

Adeel Amjad was given the notes by a friend at Dewsbury Sports Centre
Adeel Amjad was given the notes by a friend at Dewsbury Sports Centre

Amjad who has run a jewellers shop in Dewsbury for 17 years and a hotel in Roundhay Road, Leeds for five years had denied the offence claiming he made the notes, which included physical exercises because he was trying to lose weight.

When he appeared for sentence the court heard from Brett Weaver prosecuting that other items were seized from his various premises including a significant quantity of files of an Islamist nature and videos featuring what the crown would say were extreme preachers. Items seized on hard drive included an audio of the beheading of IS victim Ken Bigley anti-western rap songs, and a document 44 Ways to commit Jihad.

But because other people had access to the premises concerned they could not be linked to Amjad and had not been mentioned to the jury.

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Sentencing him to 12 months in prison suspended for two years with 240 hours unpaid work and a 30 days medium level activity order the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC said the notes found amounted to “a get fit and keep fit list” but the context of the original list he had copied was somebody who wanted to become a leader of Mujahideen.

“It is clear from what else was found not only that shown to the jury but of what I have heard today you have opened your mind, your home and your business premises to those who promote terrorism.”