'Jihadi Jack' feels 'guilty' over his parents being convicted of funding terrorism for sending him money in Syria

Jacob Jarvis23 June 2019
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

The suspected ISIS militant nicknamed Jihadi Jack said he feels “guilty” that his parents have been convicted of funding terrorism by sending him money in Syria.

The man, real name Jack Letts, said the couple's conviction at the Old Bailey on Friday "doesn't really make much sense", in an interview with Sky News.

He spoke from a prison in northern Syria, where is being held by Kurdish authorities who accuse him of being a member of Islamic State.

Letts has not seen since he travelled to the war-torn country in 2014 from his Oxford home when he was just a teenager.

Letts told Sky News: "I feel guilty for what I've put them through.

Jack Letts, also known as Jihadi Jack, in Raqqa.
PA

"It's two 60-year-old atheists being convicted for Islamic terrorism, it doesn't really make much sense."

He said his parents had sent him money to leave Syria and he used some of it to buy basic essentials including glasses.

He said: "I really want to see them more than I've ever wanted to see them in my whole life."

Mr Letts also said British people are "my people" and added: "I've no intention of blowing them up, that's probably important."

Organic farmer John Letts and former Oxfam fundraising officer Sally Lane - the parents of a young Muslim convert dubbed Jihadi Jack
PA

His parents John Letts, 58, and former Oxfam fundraising officer Sally Lane, 57, walked free from court after being given suspended sentences on Friday.

The Old Bailey heard they ignored repeated warnings their son had joined Islamic State in Syria and sent - or tried to send - a total of £1,723 for him.

This was despite being told by police three times not to, the court heard.

They were found guilty of one charge of funding terrorism in September 2015 but cleared of the same charge in December 2015. A third charge relating to an attempt to send money in January 2016 was ordered to lie on file, after jurors could not agree.

The couple said the situation and their three-year court ordeal has had devastating consequences on their lives.

His mother said her life is now "in ruins" while his father said the conviction "destroys me".

The trial heard the pair refused to believe their 18-year-old son had become an extremist when they allowed him to travel.

Following the verdicts they said they remain "committed to help Jack return home".

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in