British Army chef who built 'homemade cannon' jailed for terror-linked offences

The 28-year-old was arrested at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, in September 2024, before police later found weapons and explosive substances at his home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Broadhurst, of Scott Close, Chesterfield, was jailed for three years and 10 months and will be subject to a 10-year notification order following a week-long hearing in June this year

The court heard how Broadhurst first came to the attention of detectives after posting in online forums which demonstrated his racist views and extreme right-wing ideology.

Broadhurst also showed an interest in forming an armed militia.

Matthew Donkin KC, prosecuting, said most activity surrounding the offending happened before Broadhurst joined the Army, where he demonstrated a hatred of "black, Asian, Muslim and Jewish people".

He said: "The things he was posting were hateful, racist, aggressive and they demonstrated clear, extreme right-wing beliefs and views."

The court heard that Broadhurst made direct references to anarchy, the end of society, and his preparedness to bring it about.

Broadhurst wanted to be "in history books and criminal records" for terrorism and killing police officers, as well as sharing the online order he made for the ingredients to make gunpowder, reports the BBC.

Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North East arrested him in September 2024 at the barracks in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, where he worked as a chef.

Following searches at his home address in Chesterfield, officers found a range of weaponry, including a range of knives and crossbows, black powder, 9mm ammunition, air pistols, rifles, and an improvised homemade cannon which he made from a piece of wood and a pipe attached to it with duct tape.

Jim Littlehales, defending, read to the court a reference from a superior officer describing Broadhurst as "excellent at mentoring junior members of the catering team" and saying he worked to the highest standards.

He told the court the firearm Broadhurst made was not used to threaten anyone.

Broadhurst entered a guilty plea for both offences ahead of his trial, but the basis of the plea was not accepted by the prosecution, who argued that the possession of these items was for terrorism-related reasons.

Following a week-long Newton hearing in June 2026, the Judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, retired to consider whether the offending had a terrorism connection.

He returned his verdict on July 29 2026 and concluded that he was "satisfied to the criminal standard that one reason for possessing the firearm and gunpowder was to try and ensure that what he was saying, which included the threats of serious violence with the firearm, was taken seriously by the group whose ideologies at that time he wanted to advance."

After the sentencing, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East James Dunkerley said: "Whilst Broadhurst pleaded guilty to these offences, he did not accept that his intent had a terrorist motivation.

"A thorough investigation was conducted which uncovered an extreme right-wing mindset and he was engaging in extensive conversations online with other individuals who hold similar views.

"He was proactively ordering components to make explosives, plus he amassed multiple weapons, including firearms. After hearing the extensive evidence compiled throughout our investigation, the judge was satisfied his offending had a terrorist connection."

Head of the special crime and counter terrorism division, Frank Ferguson, added: "Mark Broadhurst was clearly interested in violence and developing weapons that had the ability to cause untold harm to innocent people.

"He was immersed in extremist material and maintained close contact with three now-convicted terrorists inspired by SS tactics and supremacist ideology over a prolonged period."