A self-proclaimed satanist actor from South West London has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison after counter-terrorism police discovered extreme right-wing material on his electronic devices.
The Airport Arrest and Investigation
Declan George Candiani, 26, a former student of the Brit School of Performing Arts, was stopped by counter-terrorism officers at Stansted Airport on August 13 2024 as he attempted to travel to Finland with his girlfriend. When police examined the contents of his phone, they immediately arrested him and subsequently searched his family home in Streatham, south-west London.
Forensic examination of Candiani's iPhone and iPad revealed a significant cache of extreme right-wing material, including manifestos written by mass killers and documents that advocated using serious violence to establish white supremacy.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At the Old Bailey on Friday, Judge Nigel Lickley KC sentenced Candiani to 23 months imprisonment plus a year on licence for one charge of collecting information likely to be useful for terrorism, and 10 months with a year on licence for a second similar charge. The sentences will run concurrently.
Judge Lickley stated: "Examination of your devices revealed that from at least February 2024 you had accessed material because you adopted an extreme far-right mindset. You tattooed your body with Adolf Hitler symbols and began watching programmes about massacres and mass shootings."
The court heard that Candiani had downloaded a DIY instruction guide for making a sheet metal firearm on 14 April 2024 and had used the encrypted messaging platform Telegram under the username Ian Stuart 88, referencing the founder of a neo-Nazi group.
Defence Claims and Mental Health
During his trial in October, where he was found guilty of two terrorism charges and acquitted of two others, Candiani denied any wrongdoing. He claimed his primary interest was in satanism and the occult rather than right-wing extremism.
In dramatic testimony, Candiani described being visited by a "red-horned devil" in his bedroom who told him: "You see me now Declan, you worship me." He told jurors he agreed to become the devil's "minion", stating: "I did literally make a pact with the devil."
The court heard that Candiani's mental health had deteriorated after his mother was diagnosed with cancer. He stated: "At that time I was dealing a lot with my mum and just hated the world and I was very angry and upset and hated everything and everyone."
Psychiatrists who assessed Candiani found he had a "mild personality disorder" but was fit to stand trial. They concluded that his claims of hearing voices and seeing the devil were not psychosis but manifestations of his personality.
Extremist Connections and Contradictions
Evidence presented in court revealed Candiani had applied to join the right-wing extremist group Active Club England. When asked why he wanted to join and what skills he could offer, he replied: "Because I'm fed up with being inactive and want to do something to help my race and nation. I have experience with weight lifting, combat and nutrition."
However, the judge noted that Candiani subsequently got "cold feet" and didn't respond to the group's request for a phone call. There was also no suggestion that Candiani distributed the material, discussed it with others, or revisited the documents once downloaded.
The pre-sentence report highlighted contradictions in Candiani's character, noting that while he described himself as having no friends and being introverted, he had attended performing arts school, maintained intimate relationships, and worked in customer-facing roles including as a duty manager at a theatre in Clapham.
Judge Lickley concluded: "Your offending in 2024 is of a type where it is right to be concerned about you and the future. You were deeply immersed in truly horrifying belief systems and associated material."
