Convicted of trying to frame his landlord as a terrorist

A pensioner who tried to frame his former landlord as an associate of Westminster Bridge terrorist Khalid Masood is being hunted by police after he was convicted in his absence.

Gerald Banyard, 65, forged letters making it look like his former landlord Ian Anderson-Boles was a friend and supporter of the 52-year-old jihadi.

One of his forgeries said: ‘Khalid, stick a cop for the old days, stick a cop.’

Masood’s car and knife rampage near the Houses of Parliament in March 2017 left five people dead, including PC Keith Palmer, and injured more than 50 innocent people.

Banyard denied but was convicted by a Southwark Crown Court jury of two counts of doing acts intending to pervert the course of justice.

Judge Christopher Hehir explained to jurors Banyard’s solicitor had received a text from Banyard’s phone saying he ‘had a fall on the Tube last night and has been taken to hospital.’

But the judge said there was no record of Banyard being admitted to A&E.

Judge Hehir added: ‘He checked out of his hotel room in something of a hurry at about 10 o’clock this morning.

‘I have issued a warrant for his arrest and we will see if he surrenders to the court.’

Steven Cookes, prosecuting, said Banyard had pretended one of the letters forwarded to Brighton police was found by an American tourist in a hotel just days after the atrocity.

Mr Cookes said: ‘Brighton police station received this package. In the bag, there was a letter, and an electronic fob.

‘The letter said: I’m an American tourist in the UK, I didn’t realise what I found in a Brighton hotel.’

‘The letter said: ‘Khalid, stick a cop for the old days, stick a cop’.

‘What was written on the second package was “For Anti-Terrorist Information, London, very very urgent. It had a note inside: “Khalid, must meet, A Boles”

‘There was a slip of paper with a header for Eastbourne borough council on it as well.’

Mr Cookes said the documents contained personal details – including Mr Anderson-Boles’ and his partner’s phone numbers.

The electronic key fob was identical to the one used to enter the flat Banyard had rented from Mr Anderson-Boles in Eastbourne.

‘Mr Banyard was a former tenant of Mr Anderson-Boles, he had a grudge and links with the Leeds area.

‘They had fallen out quite badly, as tenants and landlords tend to do.

‘Mr Banyard reacted badly to text messages. One night, after having too much to drink, Mr Anderson-Boles went to the flat of Mr Banyard and kicked the door in.’

Jurors were shown a photo of adhesive tape taken from the first package.

‘That tape was analysed for DNA, a low-level mixed sample was found, and experts formed the view that there is strong evidence this is the DNA of Mr Banyard,’ said Mr Cookes.

‘During police interviews, Mr Banyard denies writing the letters, but was still extremely keen to imply Mr Anderson-Boles was up to something, and that Mr Anderson-Boles was involved with Mr Masood.’

Mr Anderson-Boles told the court he had rented out a flat to Banyard in Eastbourne in 2016, and had arranged for a plumber to replace the boiler.

He wrote a text to the plumber saying “Better get this done quick to avoid any flare-ups from him”, but accidentally sent it to Banyard, causing a feud.

Mr Anderson-Boles told the court: ‘I didn’t have any association with Khalid Masood, I have never met the man.

‘Only after these events when I was spoken to by counter-terrorism forces did I recall having a conversation with Mr Banyard and saying apparently he went to the same school I went to, but I didn’t know him.’

‘I left school at 13, he was a few years younger than me.

‘Obviously, it was quite shocking. It was only when I saw one of the letters contained my other half’s phone number could I believe it was someone we knew, because nobody would have her phone number, not even one of my friends.’

Ms Spenwyn asked Mr Anderson-Boles: ‘You were shown these documents at the police station, when you became aware that Mr Banyard was in the frame, you decided to produce the passport photos and the other documents and tried to make the handwriting look the same as the writing in the letters, didn’t you?

Mr Anderson-Boles replied: ‘A pack of lies!’

Jurors also heard police experts matched the handwriting from the forged letters with extracts from documents found in Mr Banyard’s home.

Banyard, of The Cloisters, Whalley, Clitheroe, Lancashire, denied but was convicted of two counts of doing acts intending to pervert the course of justice.