Desmond Liddington: Alleged neo-Nazi charged with intimidating Black Lives Matters activist Paddy Gibson
An alleged Nazi-sympathiser has faced court over intimidation and affray charges towards a Black Lives Matter activist. Find out what happened in court.
St George Shire Standard
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An alleged neo-Nazi extremist who has been accused of intimidating and causing a Black Lives Matter activist to be fearful in his Arncliffe home has fronted court.
Desmond Liddington – who has distinctive tattoos on his body and bald head, including an AK-47 gun with the word RAHOWA – appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday for a brief mention of his matter.
RAHOWA can refer to “racial holy war” which is a neo-Nazi concept of race war.
Liddington was charged with stalking/intimidation and affray charges after he and two others went to the home of Black Lives Matter activist Padraic ‘Paddy’ Gibson on December 4, 2021 in Arncliffe and used unlawful violence towards him.
Court documents state the offence was committed at the address of a left-wing activist at the time when the resident’s wife was at the property.
They also revealed investigators had secured CCTV footage which allegedly depicts Liddington at the time of the incident.
The documents further state Liddington has distinctive tattoos which are visible in the footage and during a search warrant upon his premises, clothing matching that depicted in the CCTV was seized.
In court on Tuesday, Liddington sought to have bail conditions altered.
He now must live at a home in Gregory Hills rather than at an Elderslie home.
He also must report to police daily, comply with a night-time curfew, not contact prosecution witnesses nor the alleged victim. A $2000 surety was also in place.
Liddington’s case was adjourned to June 14 so he could seek legal advice, his bail was continued and he was excused from attending court on the next occasion.
Last month, Liddington was granted bail at Picton Local Court after a search warrant was executed by police.
Police prosecutor Sharon Garbutt said at the time, the alleged conduct related to “the radical beliefs held by the accused” and he was someone who had helped to set up a “neo-Nazi gang chapter in NSW”.
She said the organisation was known as Combat 18 and chapters of it existed in Australia and internationally.
“The facts before you … establish a strong Crown case and importantly your honour will note, this is the second incident for this type of offending for this accused,” she said.
“The court also knows that this is a person who has an extensive Western Australian record … you will find on that record an armed robbery.”
Ms Garbutt said Liddington had also been sentenced for placing “Nazi-style paraphernalia” on public property.
However, Magistrate Mark Douglass noted while they were serious allegations the material “falls short” when it comes to whether it was motivated by extremism. He also took into account Liddington’s criminal record.
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