Pair convicted over anti-English terror

Two men were jailed for a total of four-and-a-half years at the High Court in Stirling yesterday for their part in a conspiracy to drive the English out of Scotland.

Terence Webber and Kevin Paton took part in a campaign of threats and hoax letter bombs that was masterminded from Dublin by Webber, exiled head of the Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA). Already serving an eight-year sentence for rape, Webber, 30, was jailed for a further three years.

The jury of nine men and six women took just over an hour to find him guilty of conspiracy to further the aims of the SNLA and the extreme nationalist group, Flame, and intent to coerce the Government into granting independence for Scotland.

Paton, 27, a former van driver, was jailed for 18 months after he admitted mailing hoax letter bombs and letters warning the English- born Labour MP for Clydebank, Tony Worthington, to leave Scotland in 30 days or die.

Paton had admitted trying to further the aims of Flame, but denied involvement with the SNLA. The judge, Lord McCluskey, told him there was no way he could have been sure the devices mailed to him contained marzipan or real explosives.

The men were cleared of participating in the hoax-bombing of Aberdeen Sheriff's Court last September. The hoax device was assembled at a flat at 292 Union Grove, Aberdeen, where Webber had lived, but he denied the charge.