Not Guilty of terror charge for having book
Joshua Walker, who had fought with the Kurdish YPG against ISIS, was found not guilty on 26th October at Birmingham Crown Court after being prosecuted for possessing a copy of the Anarchists Cook Book in a case which hinged on freedom of information and the right to read and possess books.
He was charged with an offence of “possessing information likely to be of use to a terrorist” under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The case was an unusual prosecution as it was not alleged Mr Walker had any terrorist links or any intention to make use of the various bomb recipes within that book, he having downloaded it from the internet. His defence was that he had a “reasonable excuse” based on his interest and his right to freedom of expression and freedom of information.
Joel Bennathan QC and Alastair Lyon of Birnberg Peirce Solicitors defended Mr Walker.
