Matthew King, 19, has been sentenced to a minimum of six years in prison for planning terror attacks on British police and soldiers
The judge passed a life sentence - King will not be automatically released after six years
The Islamic State convert was caught carrying out reconnaissance of police stations, railway stations and an army barracks in 2021 and 2022
King, from Wickford in Essex, also planned to travel to Syria
He was put under police surveillance after his mother reported him to anti-extremism agency Prevent
At one point, King changed his WhatsApp status to "kill the non-Muslims, wherever you see them"
Image source, PoolBeginning his sentencing, Judge Lucraft says King, by his guilty plea, expressed an active desire to travel to an area of Syria controlled by Islamic State to participate in IS activities that would have seen him commit serious violence himself or endanger the lives of others.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
Spending more than 90 minutes on his feet addressing the court, King's defence barrister Hossein Zahir KC has just finished his mitigating remarks.
He was clear to suggest that 19-year-old King is an offender who is moving away from an entrenched extremist position, describing him as an honest prisoner.
Zahir emphasised King’s extremist views are diluting over time and he is, in relation of other terror offenders, unusually engaging positively in support and taking courses.
Arguing against a life sentence, Zahir insists King’s offending is unusual and feels the teenager’s actions are “low-level”.
We're now hearing from the judge, who is beginning his sentencing remarks. Tap play to watch along live at the top of the page.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
Closing his submissions, defence barrister Zahir says in a nutshell the passing of a life sentence will have an "extraordinary impact" on the 19-year-old.
"We say he is open, candid, honest and prepared to engage in courses," Zahir finishes.
The judge now says he will take a short break.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
Defence lawyer Zahir accepts that King's threat to behead a prison imam was an "odd comment", as the judge has just said.
But Zahir points out that King claims some staff have called him a bomber.
"Interactions between staff and prisoners are not built on moderate behaviour and language," Zahir adds.
Abusive environments in prison can be taken out of context, Zahir says.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
Defence barrister Zahir again addresses King's threat to behead a prison imam, which he made on 24 March.
Zahir says there was a delay in opening King's cell door and he was late for prayers.
The height of the prison's response was a warning for negative behaviour, Zahir adds.
"It's an odd comment to make," Judge Lucraft says.
As a reminder, you'll be able to watch the judge deliver King's sentence live by tapping play at the top of the page.
At the moment, the court is hearing from the defence lawyer, and this bit isn't available to watch. Courtrooms only allow the actual sentencing to be filmed - and even that's a recent change in the law.
Until then, we've got Tom Mackintosh and Daniel Sandford in court, bringing us all the key updates.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
Defence barrister Zahir continues, saying that King has said he doesn't want to be around other terror prisoners when he has to move prisons after his sentencing.
The barrister says this is a "stark contrast" to when King first arrived, when he was looking for terror prisoners.
King says he is changed, still young and learning. "This is evidence of a defendant on his way out of the woods," Zahir adds.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
Reading more from observations made in prison, defence barrister Zahir says King was shocked to learn that a "spotlight" would follow him even after he is released.
He adds that King spends 23 hours a day thinking about his faith.
Daniel Sandford
Reporting from court
Addressing head-on the fact that - according to a prison intelligence report - King had threatened to behead the prison imam, his defence barrister Zahir says: “His cell door had not been opened, in error. In frustration, he made the comment.”
He says King now has a good relationship with the prison imam and adds: “Young people will develop, they will mature, they will change.”
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
His mum observes that King has calmed down significantly after moving wings in prison, Zahir says.
The barrister says King tells his mum on the phone he is not extreme anymore.
Reading from a report, Zahir cites that King has been subjected to many welfare checks in prison adding "he has always been honest - even when asked questions about other prisoners".
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
King was moved to a different wing in prison amid concerns about his vulnerability, Zahir says.
"After the move, his behaviour improved significantly," King's defence barrister explains.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
Defence barrister Zahir continues, saying King engages in courses he is asked to do.
Zahir says King shows "candour" and is "honest" in his behaviour.
Within a month or two of King's detention, officers observed that he didn't argue back and in fact listened better about the consequences of his behaviour, Zahir adds.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
One thing which is noticeable about King is how different he looks to his mugshot.
In his mugshot photo, he has long dark hair and looks young.
Image source, Met PoliceToday, sat in the dock, his head is completely shaven. He looks much older by the way he dresses too.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
King's defence barrister Zahir brings up various prison reports and observations from King's time in prison so far.
He says because King is a terror offender, other prisoners don't want to be associated with him.
"He was at one point the only terror prisoner in Wandsworth Prison," he explains.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
The judge is exchanging some points of view with King's defence barrister Zahir, as he explains assessing dangerousness is about looking at future risks.
"It is in a sense public protection," Judge Lucraft KC adds.
"Two of the points which Mr King looked up concerned the terror attack of London Bridge and Usman Khan."
If you need a reminder, Khan fatally stabbed Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones during a prisoner rehabilitation conference in London in November 2019.
Judge Lucraft points out he oversaw the inquest into the London Bridge attack carried out by Khan.
"It is an odd quirk of fate that I am here to be sentencing Mr King," he adds.
Daniel Sandford
Reporting from court
Judge Mark Lucraft KC again praises King’s mother for alerting the authorities when she was worried about her son’s behaviour in the weeks before his arrest.
“The mother took the very bold step, one might say, of notifying Prevent when she had concerns," Lucraft says.
Daniel Sandford
Reporting from court
For years now counter-terrorism policing has been saying it needs the public’s help in order to intervene early in low-sophistication terrorist plots.
In these plots, there is no trail of explosives ingredients to follow, no group of plotters that can be infiltrated, or telephone chatter that can be intercepted. Just a man, a violent ideology, and a knife.
Detectives say the Matthew King case is an important example of how successful they can be with the public’s assistance.
Matthew King’s mother raised her concerns. “She did exactly the right thing”, the judge said in the last hearing. Others who witnessed King’s rapid escalation towards thoughts of extreme violence also raised their concerns.
Police say this allowed them to make an early arrest before any police officer or soldier was killed.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
While his defence barrister is on his feet, King is sitting in the dock fairly motionless.
As I glance around the courtroom I can see him moving his head, looking around from time to time.
Defence lawyer Zahir mentioned King's family are not in court today, but there is one person who is now sitting up in the public gallery. One security officer sits just behind her.
More than a dozen journalists from national broadcasters and newspapers are all taking notes on Zahir's remarks.
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
King's mother has written a "strong" letter of support to the judge, defence lawyer Zahir explains.
"He has no previous convictions," Zahir adds.
"He has a strong family to whom he will return to.
"His offending arose when he was an 18-year-old during the pandemic."
Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from court
Defence barrister Zahir then starts to talk about King's background and mitigation for his offending.
"The defendant was curious to explore religion and faith - this peaked during the pandemic," Zahir says.
"It appears this was a product of isolation."