Accused calls Telegram 'terror posts' gibberish

Paul Martin, pictured outside court, believed the pandemic was fake

A south London man on trial at the Old Bailey for encouraging terrorism has described posts he made on a Telegram chat group as "twaddle", "baloney" and "gibberish".

Paul Martin allegedly called for the use of explosives, serious violence and disruption to influence the government or intimidate the public in more than 16,000 posts on The Resistance UK group.

The 60-year-old joined the chat group on Telegram during the Covid pandemic.

At his trial at the Old Bailey on Monday he told defence barrister Dominic Thomas there had been "a lot of bravado" in the group's content.

'I was talking twaddle'

Mr Martin, from South Norwood, admitted having a stun gun but denies charges of collecting weapons for the purposes of terrorism.

The Resistance UK group discussed the Covid-19 virus, and protests against the restrictions brought in by governments during the pandemic.

The jury heard how one member of the group had suggested the Covid lockdowns would end in a total end to free speech.

Mr Martin, who denies a charge of encouraging terrorism, had posted: "Not in my lifetime. I will go to arms."

Asked by his defence barrister if he was "intending real violence", he replied: "No."

He told the jury: "I was just talking twaddle.

"I was saying things in my mind and writing them down as I was thinking them.

"I don't know, it was a perspective I had in my head at the time.

"I was seeing a pathway appearing as if we were heading in a tyrannical direction."

The court heard how Mr Martin suggested to other members of the group that there could be a rebellion with thousands of armed dissenters, with "lives lost on both sides".

Asked by his barrister if he had ever "led men in battle", Mr Martin said he hadn't.

"Only in paintball," he added.

Mr Martin told the court that he would never hurt anyone.

"I was just thinking aloud and typing it."

The case continues.