Key Takeaways:
- Oliver Lewin, a 41-year-old conspiracy theorist, has become the first person to have their terrorist parole case heard in public.
- Lewin was convicted of plotting an attack on communication masts and the M1 motorway to bring down Boris Johnson’s government, and has expressed hostility towards Jews and the state of Israel.
- Lewin has claimed to have changed his views, stating that he now has "a healthy amount of respect" for Israeli people and has read the Torah and the Old Testament.
- The parole hearing was held in public at Lewin’s request, with the panel considering his eligibility for release after serving two-thirds of his custodial sentence.
- The decision on Lewin’s parole will be made after the panel hears more evidence in private and will be issued 14 days after the final oral hearing.
Introduction to the Case
The case of Oliver Lewin, a 41-year-old conspiracy theorist, has made history as the first terrorist parole case to be heard in public. Lewin, a telecoms engineer from Coalville, Leicestershire, was convicted of plotting an attack on communication masts and the M1 motorway to bring down Boris Johnson’s government. He had expressed hostility towards Jews and the state of Israel, believing that the UK government was being run by a Jewish elite, including Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock, who are both self-confessed Christians.
The Parole Hearing
The parole hearing, which was held in public at Lewin’s request, was a significant event, as parole board hearings are usually held in private. However, the chair of the panel decided that it was in the interests of justice to hold the hearing in public. Lewin told the panel that he had applied for the hearing to be held in public due to the errors in the dossier of evidence against him. He also stated that he plans to apply to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, as he believes his conviction was unfair. Additionally, Lewin expressed a "grievance" against undercover officers and counter-terrorism police.
Lewin’s Change of Heart
During the hearing, Lewin claimed to have changed his views, stating that he now has "a healthy amount of respect" for Israeli people. He told the panel that he had seen the 7 October attacks and subsequent Israeli retaliation and couldn’t find himself in favor of Israel or Hamas. However, after reading the Torah and the Old Testament, Lewin said that his beliefs align closer to Judaism. He expressed sympathy for the Israeli people, stating that "once you actually understand the wider story, I can’t help but feel for them. Not admiration but certainly a healthy amount of respect."
Concerns and Recommendations
Lewin’s prison offender manager recommended that he be released, stating that he does not believe Lewin presents a serious risk of harm to the public. However, Lewin’s prison psychologist said that she would not recommend his release until he had completed a de-radicalisation programme. She expressed concerns that Lewin’s risk of reoffending is not "imminent" but could become serious depending on his behavior once he is released. The psychologist also stated that "I don’t feel like we fully understand the ideological drivers" behind Lewin’s actions.
Eligibility for Release
Lewin has served more than 500 days in custody and could be eligible for release after serving two-thirds of his custodial sentence, which is due by 30 December this year. The panel will hear more evidence in private before making a decision on Lewin’s parole. Lewin’s case has raised concerns about the effectiveness of de-radicalisation programmes and the understanding of ideological drivers behind terrorist behavior. The decision on Lewin’s parole will be made after the panel considers all the evidence and will be issued 14 days after the final oral hearing.