Yahoo News British man who fought Isil is first to be convicted of terrorism charge
The first British man to be tried for terrorism offences for fighting with a Kurdish militia against the so-called Islamic State wept as he was found guilty at a landmark trial yesterday.
Aidan James, 28, was convicted of training in weapons to fight in Iraq with the PKK, a banned Marxist political organisation.
He was cleared of a second charge of attending a place of terror training with Kurdish YPG units - or "People's Protection Units" - in Syria.
James, from Formby, Merseyside, had been repeatedly rejected from the Britsh Army due to mental health issues. Despite being monitored by anti-terror Prevent officer they handed back his passport shortly before he traveled to the war torn region in 2017.
The jury was never told that the father of one had been interviewed by the officers after he had boasted on Facebook of his determination to fight with the PKK and YPG against Isil.
James told them he was “ripped” from kickboxing training, adding: "Nothing will stop me going, even if you take my passport off me I will still find a way to go."
He ignored the officers’ advice about the legal consequences of fighting in Syria or Iraq.
He later wrote in his diary after arriving in the Middle East that sitting on a roof with a 50 calibre machine gun was like something out of the film "Mad Max".
The retrial at the Old Bailey in London heard how a police negotiator was in regular contact with James.
He wrote in his diary: "Lost good friends, met great ones, fought on front line numerous times, killed Daesh soldiers, been shot at many times by ISIS and our own guys.
"Drove humvys (sic), sat on roof as drove through desert, attacked by suicide vehicles many times, mortar fire, sniper RPG, drones, chilled with donkey."
Jurors were told fighting alongside banned groups in the region was no different to fundamentalists who plot to bring carnage to the UK.
He finally returned to Britain in February last year on flights via Baghdad, Amman and Amsterdam.
James declined to give evidence but denied both charges.
Mr Justice Edis described the case as “highly unusual” explaining that his “fleeting” involvement in training was “not to promote any acts of terrorism”.
It is the first time a Briton has been put on trial for going to Syria to fight Isil, after similar charges were dropped against ex-soldier James Matthews, 43, from Dalston, east London.
The defendant was remanded into custody to be sentenced next month.
