An ex-soldier who confessed to admiring Adolf Hitler and planning to burn down a left-wing bookshop has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison. William Howitt, 27, wrote a detailed guide on his phone outlining his intentions to carry out an arson attack on the Five Leaves Bookshop in Nottingham, which included painting a swastika and “white lives matter” on the wall.

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Howitt was found guilty of preparing a terrorist act and was also sentenced for perverting the course of justice, a charge to which he had admitted after his trial had concluded. The court learned that Howitt’s plan for the arson attack on the bookshop was created on September 7, 2020. The plan detailed the smashing of the store’s windows and dousing books and upholstery with petrol. On the same day, Howitt purchased a hammer and tarpaulin, both items mentioned in the plan.

Judge condemns right-wing extremism

Sentencing Howitt, Judge Paul Farrer KC acknowledged the apparent ineptitude and nonsensical nature of the arson plan but emphasised Howitt’s entrenched right-wing views, which had developed since his departure from the Army. Judge Farrer remarked, “You were virulently antisemitic, anti-Islam and opposed to the left-wing, you glorified Hitler and were sympathetic of acts of terror towards those you disapproved of.”

The judge explained that Howitt selected the Five Leaves Bookshop as his target for arson because it represented everything he detested. He continued, “You listed the equipment you would need including petrol, a lighter, an air pistol, a knife, tarpaulin, a balaclava, contact gloves. You already owned several of these items.” The judge further noted that despite creating the plan and acquiring some of the necessary items, there was no evidence that Howitt ever revisited the plan or attempted to carry it out.

Impact on the targeted bookshop: owner’s message and community response

A victim impact statement from Five Leaves bookshop owner Ross Bradshaw was read in court, in which he expressed the impact of the incident on his staff, stating, “With thousands of titles, we’d be surprised if every customer liked all our books. Our commitment to diversity runs with the grain of bookselling. But, if you don’t like our books, just walk away, don’t plan to burn us down.” Bradshaw also noted that Howitt’s status as a former soldier made the arson plan particularly troubling, and he hoped that Howitt would seek help to reintegrate into society.

Nick Price, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, stressed the seriousness of Howitt’s intentions, stating, “His plan to carry out the arson attack was fueled by his anger and hatred towards those whose views who were strongly opposed to his own. Howitt’s drafting of the plan was accompanied by the purchase of two items and an attempt to obtain a third. It was clear this was not a fantastical creation without intent – he planned to carry out the attack.”