July 02, 2007

BNP candidate was 'stockpiling chemicals for civil war'

The wife of a BNP council candidate accused of stockpiling chemicals for a civil war reported him after he stopped her watching the television, a court heard.

Kerena Cottage, 29, reported Robert, her husband of three-years, after he became "radical" in his religious and political views and removed the TV aerial to shield her from "government propaganda".

Louise Blackwell, prosecuting, said: "He became more religious and controlling of her. He removed the aerial from the television so she couldn't watch what he described as the brainwashing material being put out by the government."

School bus driver Cottage, 49, is jointly accused with former dentist David Jackson, 62, of conspiring to cause an explosion between 1 January 2006 and 30 September 2006. Cottage admitted possessing explosives between the same dates during a previous trial. But Jackson, of Trent Street, Nelson, denies the charge.

Yesterday, Manchester Crown Court, heard that Cottage took delivery of 11 boxes of chemicals and ingredients after Jackson wrote him a letter setting out what to buy.

Miss Blackwell said the investigation began after Mrs Cottage, who suffers from schizophrenia, reported her husband to her social worker who called the police.

She said: "At the start of the relationship all was well but it degenerated. Robert Cottage met a member of the BNP and both he and Kerena joined the organisation. Kerena says some times they would go to meetings very regularly, at which times she described his attitude as radical. He stood on two occasions for the local elections and wasn't selected. Through his membership he met his co-defendant, who wasn't a member but attended meetings.

"Kerena Cottage describes her husband beginning to discuss Asian and white cultures and began listening to what she considered radical radio broadcasts over the internet."

Some time after the chemicals were delivered on 27 September to Cottage's home in Talbot Street, Colne, police arrested him.

The Crown say Cottage also had BB guns, a cross bow, gas masks, two 56 kilogram bags of sugar, a box of mini flares, half a ton of rice, 34 gas canisters, a selection of pellets and an air pistol. Also, officers found a series of printed bomb recipes from "The Anarchist's Handbook", downloaded from the internet.

"The prosecution say these recipes, particularly though not exclusively,show what the intention was of these defendants," said Miss Blackwell.

"Namely, they intended to make an explosion from what they had. These two men agreed to order chemicals that put together would cause an explosion and had the ability to endanger life or cause damage to property. They didn't have them for any lawful purpose."

(proceeding)

Burnley Citizen

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Religious far right nutter planning a terrorist act. I hear he has been charged with Possession of bomb making materials/ Possession of explosives. Is that correct?

Have the BNP commented on this case at all?

Anonymous said...

They don't need to. They allowed this nutter to stand 3 times in local elections for them and that speaks for itself?

Anonymous said...

If Robert Cottage is convicted of terrorism, will his picture be be posted on the front page of the Sun, Mail, and Express, with the words "EVIL TERRORIST JAILED"???

It'll be tucked away on page twelve because he is not Muslim.

It seems all the tabloid press are worried about is the bloody war on terror

FULL STOP!!!

Anonymous said...

What they're interested in doing is making the population so scared that they hand their freedoms over on a plate. The press is one big lying propaganda machine and if Robert Cottage is tucked away on page 12 it's because it serves a purpose, just as they have umpteen juicy stories on Nicholas Griffin but refuse to publish any. The press are manipulating and self serving.

Anonymous said...

Robert Cottage was a nice guy befor he got involved with the bnp.
The bnp made him twisted.When you have got Nick Griffin trying to hype everyone up by saying there is going to be a civil war in the next 5 years so we have to prepare now.You can get carried along with the flow.Nick Griffins also into NLP.Hes a dangerous man who want other people to do his dirty work.
If robert had never got into the bnp he would be alot different than he is now.And he would still have a peacefull life.