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A teenage terrorist who enticed a Cardiff teenager to join Isis in Syria says he has now had “a change of heart”

Adeel Ulhaq, now 22, was locked up for six years at the Old Bailey in February after being convicted of preparing for acts of terrorism and arranging terrorist funding.

And following a hearing at London’s Appeal Court, senior judges ruled Ulhaq cannot complain about his tough sentence.

Ulhaq, of Westbourne Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts, was obsessed by global jihad, the appeal court heard.

He ranted on social media about wanting to “behead” unbelievers, and had extensive internet contacts among like-minded fanatics.

Money went towards securing ammunition for terrorists

Ulhaq’s principal crime involved encouraging Cardiff teenager, Aseel Muthana, to travel to Syria to wage holy war for ISIS.

He had prolonged phone communication with the 19-year-old, and gave him multiple tips about how to contact fellow jihadis when Muthana reached southern Turkey, en route to Syria.

Muthana ended up joining ISIS, said Judge Peter Collier QC, and has never returned from the war zone.

Ulhaq was also involved in wiring £200 overseas, which went towards securing ammunition for terrorists.

His case reached the appeal court as Ulhaq’s lawyers challenged his punishment, claiming it was far too tough.

"There was a commitment to violent extremist jihadism"

Judge Collier, sitting with Lord Justice McCombe and Mr Justice Fraser, noted that he has since undergone a “change of heart”.

But he rejected arguments that the sentence was too long - despite lawyers urging that Ulhaq’s activities “never got beyond his bedroom”.

The judge acknowledged that Ulhaq was involved in terrorism “for an extremely short time”.

“But there was a commitment to violent extremist jihadism,” he added.

Muthana was also “vulnerable due to his age and immaturity,” the judge added.

Overall, Ulhaq’s total sentence was “not excessive”, he concluded, dismissing the sentence challenge.