A neo-Nazi who kept an unlicensed shotgun has received a prison sentence of almost four years for praising a banned terror group and posting racist, homophobic content online.

Richard Osborne, 53, pleaded guilty to two counts of publishing material intended to provoke racial hatred and homophobia.

The Solihull resident received a prison sentence of three years and ten months for posting racist and homophobic materials on the Russian social media platform VK at least 120 times.

Osborne was a supporter of a far-right banned terrorism group and posted the flag of banned neo-Nazi group National Action.

He often posted graphic, racist materials on his VK profile – ranging from Holocaust denial and trivialisation, anti-Jewish and anti-Black cartoons published on a US-based white supremacist website, to content calling for the violent removal of Muslim, Jewish, and Black communities from the UK and Europe.

Following his arrest, Orborne’s property was searched and a shotgun was found under a bed. He was charged with possession without a license.

A baton was also found in his car which had been adapted from a metal bar. Osborne was charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

He pleaded guilty to all the offences at a court appearance in May.

Detective Superintendent Anastasia Miller, from Counter-Terrorism Police West Midlands, said: “By pleading guilty, Osborne admitted he held extreme far right views and through our investigation we were able to provide clear evidence he supported white supremacists as well as a proscribed far right group banned by the Government.

“Someone who holds extreme views against those that don’t look like him or hold the same views is not welcome in our society.

“Today’s sentence should be a clear message to those who intend to spread hate and terror, we will continue to work with partners and the CPS to protect our communities by pursuing and prosecuting such individuals.