Parents of British Islamic convert 'Jihadi Jack' remanded on terror offence charges
THE parents of British Islamic convert “Jihadi Jack” were sent to prison on remand today to await a court appearance at the Old Bailey.
The parents were accused of sending their son £1,700 knowing it could be used for terrorism
John Letts, 55, and Sally Lane, 54, pleaded not guilty to accusations they sent more than £1,700 to their son in Syria knowing it could be used for terrorism.
The middle-class couple appeared at Westminster magistrates court where district judge Emma Arbuthnot remanded them both in custody until their next court date in two weeks’ time.
Jack Letts, 20, left his family home in Oxford in 2014 to travel to Syria where he is believed to have become the first white Briton to join terror group Islamic State (ISIS).
Pictures posted on social media show him posing in combat gear near the Tabqa Dam in Syria.
He reportedly goes by the name Abu Mohammed and is married to an Iraqi woman with whom he has a son, Muhammed.
He is now believed to be in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, which is under siege by Iraqi government troops.
Jack Letts, 20, left his family home in Oxford in 2014 to travel to Syria
Jack Letts has repeatedly denied being a Jihadist and friends believe he travelled to Syria to help in hospitals as an aid worker.
Jack’s parents are accused of sending him £223 on September 2 last year, £1,000 on December 31 and £500 on January 4 this year.
Lane is accused of attempting to send two further payments of £500 on January 4.
Jack’s parents are accused of sending him money several times since September last year
Canadian-born John Letts, an organic farmer who has appeared on BBC’s Countryfile, was awarded a £25,000 grant in 2011 from a fund set up by Prince Charles to help preserve crop biodiversity.
Today the couple, of Chilswell Road, Oxford, spoke in court only to confirm their names and to plead not guilty to all the charges.
They will appear at the Old Bailey on June 23.