Jack Mason, a 31-year-old resident of St Helens, has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison for a series of offenses, including violent disorder, malicious communications, and possession of cannabis. His actions, spanning from 2021 to 2023, reveal a disturbing pattern of escalating threats towards law enforcement, fueled by extremist ideologies and a fascination with violence. The court proceedings uncovered a trove of disturbing materials at his home, including Nazi paraphernalia, weapons, and suicide notes, painting a picture of a deeply troubled individual with a dangerous fixation on causing harm.
Mason’s initial offenses stemmed from an arrest in 2021 for obstructing a drug search and resisting arrest. He subsequently harassed the arresting officer with threatening phone calls, including death threats. Despite receiving a restraining order, Mason continued his campaign of intimidation, this time targeting a new officer who had been assigned the previous officer’s collar number. Using the pseudonym “Harry Roberts,” the name of a notorious cop killer, Mason sent a series of menacing emails, hinting at future violence and outlining his plans, which included acquiring firearms, a police uniform, and petrol. Although arrested, police initially lacked sufficient evidence to link him to the emails.
Mason’s violent tendencies further manifested during the Southport riots in the summer of 2023, sparked by a tragic attack that claimed the lives of three young girls. He actively sought information about the protests, expressing his racist views and intent to participate. Footage captured him engaging in destructive behavior, throwing bricks and projectiles at police officers while wearing a balaclava and a distinctive khaki green shirt. This incident marked a significant escalation in his criminal activity, moving from online threats to real-world acts of violence.
Following his participation in the riots, Mason renewed his email campaign, this time targeting Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy. Using the same “Harry Roberts” alias, he boasted about acquiring firearms and expressed his desire to harm her, describing in graphic detail how he would “cut her face off.” He also referenced the Dunblane school massacre, a horrific act of violence that took the lives of 16 children and a teacher, further highlighting his disturbing preoccupation with mass shootings and violence against vulnerable populations.
The police finally arrested Mason after this latest wave of threats. A search of his residence uncovered a disturbing array of items: an airsoft gun, a noose, a knife, Nazi imagery including a swastika drawing and a photograph of a burning rainbow flag, stickers with white supremacist slogans and racial slurs, two suicide notes, and a small amount of cannabis. His phone contained further evidence of his extremist views, including pictures of himself wearing a Nazi armband and an image with the phrase “Don’t blame me. I voted for
