A knifeman with Adolf Hitler’s signature tattooed on his arm has been jailed for life for the attempted murder of an asylum seeker at a hotel, claiming the attack was a “form of protest” against small boat crossings.
Callum Ulysses Parslow, who wrote his own “terrorist manifesto”, stabbed Nahom Hagos in the chest and hand at the Pear Tree Inn at Hindlip, Worcestershire, in April last year after buying a “specialist” knife online for 1,000 US dollars (£770).
The 32-year-old tried to tweet the manifesto document before his arrest, claiming he “just did my duty to England” by trying to “exterminate” his victim and tagging Tommy Robinson as well as prominent politicians including Sir Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak, Nigel Farage and Suella Braverman, but the message failed to send because he had copied in too many recipients.
Parslow, of Bromyard Terrace, Worcester, was convicted of attempted murder following a three-week trial at Leicester Crown Court last year, and also pleaded guilty to an unconnected sexual offence and two charges of sending electronic communications with intent to cause distress and anxiety.
Mr Justice Dove handed Parslow a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years and eight months at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, telling the defendant: “You committed a vicious and unprovoked assault on a complete stranger Nahom Hagos who suffered devastating injuries as a result of your violence.”
The judge said Parslow was “motivated by your adoption of a far-right neo-Nazi mindset which fuelled your warped, violent and racist views”.
“This was undoubtedly a terrorist attack,” he added.
In a victim impact statement written earlier this month by Mr Hagos, and read in court by the prosecution, he described the “excruciating pain” he continues to suffer in his hand.
“The pain is unbearable and keeps me awake all night long,” Mr Hagos said.
“The pain feels like an electric shock going through my hand and I now have insomnia.
“I had been living and pursuing a happy life before the incident. This is now a distant memory.
“I prefer to be on my own. I feel lonely and don’t feel safe on the street. My life has been turned upside down.”
In the statement he said he struggled to understand why Parslow attacked him, saying: “I was a law-abiding, good person.”
Parslow carried out the attack while he was under investigation for offences of malicious communication and exposure.
Prosecutor Tom Storey KC said that between July and August 2023, the defendant sent “grossly offensive” messages to a woman who was a prominent TV presenter at the time.
The messages were “of a sexual and racist nature” and were sent from various social media accounts set up by Parslow under fake names.
He also sent her a sexually explicit video.
The prosecutor said Parslow “described himself as being full of anger and resentment and as being not very good at talking to women” in a police interview.
He had been convicted of similar offences in 2018, when he was jailed for seven counts of stalking causing fear of violence and three counts of sending indecent or offensive communications between March and September 2017.
Parslow sent messages to 13 different women from Facebook accounts with false names which were “sexually graphic and extremely violent”.
