National Action co-founder was offered job with BT, jury hears

The co-founder of a neo-Nazi terror group was offered a job at a BT office in Swansea, a court has heard.

Alex Davies, 28, from the city's Uplands area, denies being a member of National Action after it was banned as a terrorist organisation.

Mr Davies is accused of being a recruiter for the organisation.

Earlier jurors heard him talking about founding a group with a more "professional image" after National Action was banned.

Winchester Crown Court was read transcripts of conversations Mr Davies had with various people, including his then American partner, Alexandra Whitcombe, who called him, "pumpkin".

She advised him that there must be "absolutely no hint" of his "political life" or "affiliations" in an application.

The court heard Mr Davies used a number of emails, including a "national youth" email address. He has been likened to the Nazi Heinrich Himmler in court.

Miss Whitcombe said she could not "believe" the defendant had been using that email.

Mr Davies said he had been "using that email for ages".

Jurors heard he told Miss Whitcombe he had been "offered a job" at the BT office in Swansea "a few weeks ago".

He explained to his partner BT were expanding their sales wing in the city.

The court was told he then changed his email to "AlexDaviesSwansea".

There were no suggestions in court BT was aware of any affiliations the defendant may have had.

Earlier in the trial jurors heard Miss Whitcombe "expressed her pride in the defendant".

She also said: "I've dealt with felons, con artists and criminals, trust me you're difficult".

In later messages she called Mr Davies "my little piranha fish", and sent him a cash "tribute".

Once Mr Davies received more than £1,000 from Miss Whitcombe, where she said, "congrats on killing it in work", and "I'm so proud of you, you're such a diligent hard worker".

On a later date she sent £930.70 to him.

The court was read messages Mr Davies sent after National Action was banned. One read: "I think it's just best to start with a blank slate."

He said he wanted "a professional image that is more focused on promoting an ideology".

The court heard Mr Davies would carry out "postering" around Cardiff with someone from the University of South Wales.

In a conversation with a potential recruit know as Accipiter, from Monmouthshire, Mr Davies told him he had had arguments with his parents.

He said he was "polite" and "high achieving" and so they wanted a relationship with him.

However, he said their parents had "filled our country with immigrants, taught us white guilt".

Mr Davies later arranged to meet Accipiter in Cardiff's Prince of Wales pub.

The trial was also played footage of a demonstration called "The battle of Liverpool".

It showed National Action co-founder, Ben Raymond, who also lived in Swansea, shouting, "Gas them all" through a megaphone.

It took place in Liverpool before the group was banned.

A police intelligence officer working in a unit combating domestic extremism told the court the demo was attended by a number of far-right groups, but National Action was prominent.

The jury was told Mr Davies was standing next to Ben Raymond in the video and several other convicted members of National Action.

The footage showed a large group of people, dressed in black, giving Nazi salutes and throwing objects.

Jurors heard a police officer was hit with a brick.

Earlier in the trial, the court heard Mr Davies and Mark Jones gave a Nazi salute in Buchenwald concentration camp after travelling to Germany.

Jurors heard the image caused a "massive storm" in Germany and internationally, was published in 40 newspapers and played on news channels.

Alex Davies denies membership of a proscribed organisation.

The case continues.