Bolton teacher Jamshed Javeed admits terrorism charges

30-year-old Jamshed Javeed is described by his former pupils at Sharples High School in Bolton as an “excellent” and “inspiring” teacher. Yet according to Greater Manchester police, he became rapidly radicalised, from living an ordinary western lifestyle with a stable family background to someone who was determined to travel to Syria and fight for Isis, now known as the Islamic State group.

Javeed, 30, from Levenshulme in Manchester, pleaded guilty today to intending to travel to Syria to join rebels fighting against the Assad regime. But he insists in his basis of plea that he is not an extremist and “has never supported and does not support the aims of Isis as now revealed and understood”.

Previously law-abiding

Police claim the previously law-abiding married father of two started to support the Isis cause from August last year. The first charge states that he intended to help others to commit acts of terrorism by providing funding and purchasing equipment between 1 July 2013 and 12 March this year.

The second count alleges that he made travel plans, obtained a passport and purchased equipment with the intention of committing acts of terrorism between the same dates.

Javeed insists he “has never supported and does not support the aims of isis as now revealed and understood.”

Javeed was arrested last December by counter-terrorism officers amid fears he was planning to fly out imminently to Syria via Turkey with equipment he had bought for use on the battlefields.

His family pleaded with him not to travel to Syria, but Javeed told them he wanted to go regardless of their wishes. Channel 4 News understands that his family even tried to stop him by hiding his passport. However, he applied for a new one and was arrested again and charged when he obtained one.

‘Determined to go’

Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, head of the north west counter-terrorism unit, said: “The evidence indicates he has got together with a group who have been very determined to go out to Syria and fight despite the efforts of his family who were against him going out there.

“So friends and family have been very clear and have attempted to stop him travelling to Syria but he was still determined to go.”

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, claimed last week that as many as five young Britons a week are travelling to fight in Syria alongside jihadists, joining hundreds already thought to have left.

Javeed will be sentenced on 12 December.