Man who glorifed Lee Rigby murder recalled to prison after Met Counter Terrorism investigation

Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command have ensured that a registered terrorist offender who glorified the murder of Lee Rigby has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ in prison after he breached his notification requirements.

Royal Barnes 34 (28.08.90) was convicted in March 2014 of inciting terrorism overseas and three counts of transmitting a terrorist publication following the murder of Lee Rigby, a British soldier, in Woolwich.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Monitoring those convicted of terrorism-related crimes is a key part of our work to ensure that they are not posing any further risk to the public.

“Terrorism offenders are subject to strict notification requirements once they have completed their sentences, and we are proactive in making sure they are sticking to these. As this case shows we will not hesitate to take action should we identify any breaches and it should also send a message that there are serious consequences for those who do so.”

Barnes was sentenced to five years and four months in jail in 2014 after he produced videos, posted on Youtube, showing footage of the scene and calling for British-based Muslims to fight the government.

He was released from prison in September 2016, but recalled in June 2017 for breaching his licence when he was found in possession of an iPhone which he hadn’t notified officers about. He was then released again in May 2019 and was subject to a number of ‘Part 4’ notification requirements.

On 26 October 2023 he was arrested for breaches of these notification requirements relating to use of a vehicle, mobile phone and email account. He was also found to have been involved in fraudulent activity related to possession of bank cards.

He pleaded guilty to these offences on 25 October last year and was sentenced on 28 March, at the Old Bailey, to three-and-a-half years in prison for the two breaches and a further 12 months, to be served consecutively, for the fraud offence.

He must serve at least two thirds of his sentence in custody before being referred to a parole board.