A Bury man has been jailed for three years after admitting terrorism offences relating to extremist material and using mobile phones while in prison.
Muhammad Zakir Arif was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Friday 24 July.
Muhammad Zakir Arif, aged 20, from Bury, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of possession of material likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
He also admitted three offences relating to prison security, contrary to Section 40D of the Prisons Act 1952.
The court ordered that Arif serve an additional year on licence following his release. He was also made subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order for five years.
Arif is the son and grandson of two local Bury Councillors; one councillor is also a Cabinet member actively serving on the council.
Judge Conrad KC said he had taken into account Arif's age, his early guilty pleas and a previous three-year sentence already being served for linked offences. The judge said the offences would have attracted a sentence of around six years in custody for an adult offender.
The court heard that Arif was originally jailed in September 2024 following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North West. Those offences included possession of knives, assaulting a police officer during interview and refusing to provide PIN numbers for his mobile phones after being served with a notice under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.
Detectives later gained access to data stored on one of the phones and found multiple files containing extremist material, including videos released by extremist organisations encouraging terrorist attacks and providing advice on how they could be carried out.
While serving his earlier sentence, prison staff discovered two concealed mobile phones in Arif's cell. Although he initially denied they belonged to him, investigators found one of the devices had been used by Arif to contact associates outside the prison.
Detective Chief Superintendent Jon Chadwick, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said, "Muhammad Zakir Arif thought that by refusing to comply with a RIPA notice and provide access to his phone, his extremist activity would remain hidden.
"However, thanks to the detailed work by the investigation team, we were able to access the phone data and discover multiple extremist videos. These videos offered advice and encouragement to individuals considering conducting a terrorist attack. Ultimately, all he achieved by his original refusal to provide access to the phone was more prison time for himself.
"Whilst serving the original prison time, he was found to have two phones in his possession and, despite claiming they weren't his, he had clearly been in contact with associates. I hope his conviction for that offence sends a clear message to anyone considering using a phone illegally in prison that you will be brought to justice and face even more time in custody."
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