Man Feared ‘Chinese Communist System’ During Pandemic and Wanted to Topple UK Government, Court Told

An undated image shows the Union Flag flies above the Victoria Tower and the Palace of Westminster in London. Jonathan Brady/PA

A terror suspect who believed a “Jewish elite” dominated British politics, plotted to “topple the government” by attacking communications infrastructure such as mobile phone masts, a trial at Birmingham Crown Court has heard.

Oliver Lewin, 38, from Coalville, Leicester, denies preparing terrorist acts, including carrying out reconnaissance of targets, including a transmitter at Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham, purchasing equipment and tools, and seeking to recruit accomplices.

Opening the prosecution case on Friday, Annabel Darlow, KC, said: “By 2021, Oliver Lewin was deeply opposed to the government of the United Kingdom. Mr. Lewin, in fact, stated his goal was to topple the British government. He believed that it was dominated by a Jewish elite who took orders from Israel.”

“He saw the spread of coronavirus across the world as triggering what he termed the emergence of a Chinese communist system,” she added.

When police arrested him and searched his home they discovered a partially written book, called the Civilian Resistance Operations Manual, which was allegedly written by Lewin.

The jury was told the manual included an excerpt that said: “What we can be certain of is that we are seeing the emergence of a Chinese communist system that is ever accelerating with rapidity. We are not a communist country and should fight with everything we have to prevent it.”

Crouching Hedgehog Alias

The prosecution claim Lewin, posing as a former soldier, used the moniker Crouching Hedgehog on the messaging app Telegram to recruit like-minded people.

The jury heard Lewin planned to blow up transmitter masts and transport infrastructure, such as the M1 motorway.

The allegations against him date between Jul. 24, 2021, and Aug. 25, 2021.

Darlow said Lewin was “deeply suspicious” of the COVId-19 vaccination programme, which was being rolled out at the time.

She said Lewin put himself on a “war footing” and was, “determined on the use of action to achieve his aim of destabilising the government.”

Darlow said he wanted to “attack the hardware” of communication systems and “cause damage to the road network.”

She said he had worked as an audio-visual engineer and had some knowledge of communications masts which he hoped to use to sabotage them.

Darlow said undercover officers on Telegram befriended him and he told them the Sutton Coldfield transmitter station was an “exceptionally high value target” which could be put out of action by firebombing.

When interviewed by detectives, Lewin insisted he was a harmless “fantasist” engaging in “role play.”

The trial is expected to last several weeks.

PA Media contributed to this report.