Member of banned UK Islamist group breached terror prevention order by meeting woman for sex: report

A member of an Islamist group banned in the UK has breached a terror prevention order by meeting a woman for sex, BBC have reported.

The male, identified only at QT for legal reasons, was a member of Al-Muhajiroun. He was handed an 18-month community order at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.

Individuals with ties to Al-Muhajiroun have been linked to several UK jihadist attacks, including the 2019 knife attack at London's Fishmongers' Hall and the 2017 London Bridge attack.

A court found QT guilty of breaching a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Order, a maximum two-year measure that allows UK authorities to monitor and control those it considers to be terrorists.

TPIMs involves wearing an electronic tag, curfews, relocation, controls on internet use, and limit on personal interaction.

Read more: The Islamic State in Britain: Why young Muslims join and leave the extremist group

Prosecutor Emma Gargitter told the court that QT had an unauthorised meeting with a woman at his home last November for "sexual gratification".

She said the breach was similar to seven offences he committed in early 2019 when he had sex with a vulnerable woman, for which he received an 18-month prison sentence.

When released from jail in March 2020, the TPIM was re-activated, but QT refused to sign it. It expired in March this year.  

Judge Sarah Munro QC said his latest offence was a "blatant breach by someone who knew the rules", giving him an 18-month community order and ruling he must complete 90 hours of unpaid work.