A man described in court as a self-styled “anglo jihadi” has been jailed for life after planning a terrorist attack on public targets in the UK, including a major shopping centre.
Jordan Richardson, 21, of Oliver Close in Howden, East Yorkshire, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of preparing acts of terrorism and related offences.
The court heard Richardson had been planning what prosecutors described as an “atrocity”, with potential targets including Meadowhall shopping centre. He was arrested by counter-terrorism police in December 2024.
At the time of his arrest, Richardson had purchased a crossbow, possessed a knife, and was carrying instructions on how to manufacture mustard gas. He had also made online jokes about wearing a suicide vest inside a synagogue.
Passing sentence, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb imposed a discretionary life sentence, ordering Richardson to serve a minimum of 16 years in custody. She said he had demonstrated a “genuine ideological commitment to violent jihad”.
The judge told the court that the volume and persistence of Richardson’s online activity showed a clear intent to carry out a terrorist attack in the UK, adding that without police intervention, the attack would have taken place within weeks.
Richardson was found to have pledged allegiance to Islamic State and expressed continued support for the group while in custody. The court was told he was not showing signs of deradicalisation.
During the trial, jurors heard that Richardson had converted to Islam following the breakdown of a relationship and attended a mosque in Goole regularly. His internet search history included queries such as “Does Isis recruit on Instagram?”, while social media posts showed him firing a crossbow and destroying a statue of Buddha.
Richardson claimed his online behaviour amounted to fantasy and role-playing, describing it as an escape from feelings of depression and isolation. However, prosecutors argued he was not an online fantasist but an extremist who intended to turn his beliefs into real-world violence.
He was convicted in November of preparing acts of terrorism, collecting information likely to be useful for terrorist purposes, and distributing terrorist publications.