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(Image: EPA)

The twisted 49-year-old encouraged backing for the vile terrorist group in a series of talks posted on social media.

Choudary stayed on the right side of the law for two decades before investigators were able to finally pin him down — as he put his name to an online video pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The infamous leader figure in the banned extremist group al-Muhajiroun (ALM) now faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison.

Choudary and co-defendant Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, 33, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of inviting support for IS between June 29, 2014 and March 6, 2015.

The verdicts were delivered on July 28, but for legal reasons can only be reported for the first time today.

As the unhinged pair were convicted, Mr Justice Holroyde warned the preachers they face lengthy spells in prison, and said they had only shown "a grudging compliance" to the court.

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***Find out more about Choudary's 20-year campaign of hate***

The court heard cops pounced in September 2014 after Choudary and three other influential radicals lent their names to an oath of allegiance to ISIS which was posted on Skype and other websites.

The preacher, viewed by officers as a key force in radicalising young Muslims, had been the "mouthpiece" of Omar Bakri Mohammed — the founder of the banned extremist group ALM.

The dad, who backed the Remain campaign this year, courted publicity by voicing controversial views on Sharia law, while building up a following of thousands through social media, demonstrations and lectures around the world.

In one speech in March 2013, Choudary set out his chilling ambitions for the Muslim faith to "dominate the whole world".

He said: "Next time when your child is at school and the teacher says 'What do you want when you grow up? What is your ambition?', they should say 'To dominate the whole world by Islam, including Britain – that is my ambition'."

(Image: MET POLICE) (Image: GETTY)

Supporters included evil Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, the callous murderers of soldier Lee Rigby, and suspected ISIS executioner Siddhartha Dhar.

Choudary shared his ideas with his more than 32,000 followers on Twitters.

The dad-of-five denied encouraging his followers to back the terror group and insisted the oath had been made without his knowledge.

But shockingly he continued to express extreme views during his Old Bailey trial.

He told the jury: "If you took an objective view there are circumstances where someone could be punished."

(Image: MET POLICE)

Choudary, of Ilford, north east London, and Rahman, of Whitechapel, east London, will be sentenced on September 6.

Commander Dean Haydon, Head of the MPS counter terrorism command said: "These men have stayed just within the law for many years, but there is no one within the counter terrorism world that has any doubts of the influence that they have had, the hate they have spread and the people that they have encouraged to join terrorist organisations.

"Over and over again we have seen people on trial for the most serious offences who have attended lectures or speeches given by these men."

"The oath of allegiance was a turning point for the police - at last we had the evidence that they had stepped over the line and we could prove they supported ISIS."

(Image: GETTY)

He added: "During the course of the investigation 20 years worth of material was considered, with over 333 electronic devices containing 12.1 terabytes of storage data assessed and evidence identified to support the prosecution case at court.

"Our well established international contacts ensured that we were able to obtain key evidence from the Indonesian authorities to prove that Choudary and Rahman were key in the publication of their oath of allegiance.

"This has been a significant prosecution in our fight against terrorism and we will now be working with communities to ensure that they are not replaced by others spreading hate."