'Jihadi Jack' feels 'guilty' over his parents being convicted of funding terrorism for sending him money in Syria

The suspected ISIS militant nicknamed Jihadi Jack said he feels “guilty” that his parents have been convicted of funding terrorism by sending him money in Syria.

The man, real name Jack Letts, said the couple's conviction at the Old Bailey on Friday "doesn't really make much sense", in an interview with Sky News.

He spoke from a prison in northern Syria, where is being held by Kurdish authorities who accuse him of being a member of Islamic State.

Letts has not seen since he travelled to the war-torn country in 2014 from his Oxford home when he was just a teenager.

Letts told Sky News: "I feel guilty for what I've put them through.

"It's two 60-year-old atheists being convicted for Islamic terrorism, it doesn't really make much sense."

He said his parents had sent him money to leave Syria and he used some of it to buy basic essentials including glasses.

He said: "I really want to see them more than I've ever wanted to see them in my whole life."

Mr Letts also said British people are "my people" and added: "I've no intention of blowing them up, that's probably important."

His parents John Letts, 58, and former Oxfam fundraising officer Sally Lane, 57, walked free from court after being given suspended sentences on Friday.

The Old Bailey heard they ignored repeated warnings their son had joined Islamic State in Syria and sent - or tried to send - a total of £1,723 for him.

This was despite being told by police three times not to, the court heard.

They were found guilty of one charge of funding terrorism in September 2015 but cleared of the same charge in December 2015. A third charge relating to an attempt to send money in January 2016 was ordered to lie on file, after jurors could not agree.

The couple said the situation and their three-year court ordeal has had devastating consequences on their lives.

His mother said her life is now "in ruins" while his father said the conviction "destroys me".

The trial heard the pair refused to believe their 18-year-old son had become an extremist when they allowed him to travel.

Following the verdicts they said they remain "committed to help Jack return home".

Additional reporting by the Press Association.