National Socialist Network leader Thomas Sewell fails in bid to talk to fellow members charged over Australia Day protests

A neo-nazi leader's lawyer said it’s an “abomination” his client’s political ideology has been criminalised, with the court hearing the group plan to form a political party.

A top neo-nazi leader has failed in his bid to be able to communicate with his co-accused, with the court hearing the group plan to form a political party.

National Socialist Network leader Thomas Sewell appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, requesting to lift the ban preventing him from communicating with his followers.

The 31-year-old, of Wantirna South in Victoria, has yet to plead to one count of loitering and one count of displaying a Nazi symbol.

He was one of 15 people who faced court after being arrested for allegedly disrupting peaceful and prearranged marches on Australia Day.

Prominent neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell is seen leaving the Melbourne Magistrates Court. Picture: NewsWire/Luis Enrique Ascui

Mr Sewell was handcuffed and wearing the uniform of the National Socialist Network, including an armband bearing its symbol, the Arrow Cross.

That symbol, SA Police allege, is a Nazi insignia banned under the new laws – but Mr Sewell said he was not aware of any connection between it and the ideology.

Matthew Hopkins, for Mr Sewell, told the court the bail conditions infringed upon his client’s “rights of political communication”.

He said the charges had “zero prospects of success” for a conviction and noted that the group intended to form a political party.

“It’s clear that the police had a premeditation to disrupt this demonstration and to arrest,” he said.

Phoebe Foster-Richardson, prosecuting, opposed the bail variation, due to Mr Sewell’s risk of reoffending.

Neo Nazi Joel Davis is seeing leaving the Adelaide Magistrates court after an earlier appearance.

“The demonstration by the NSN members on Australia Day was a highly co-ordinated event by them,” she said.

“Had the police not intervened we don’t know what may have happened.”

Ms Foster-Richardson said the non-association order would prevent the members from organising similar events in the future, particularly with Anzac Day approaching.

Thomas Sewell's lawyer Matthew Hopkins outside court. Photo: Lucy Rutherford

She argued Mr Sewell had been “very active” in continuing to demonstrate and publish his views about the NSN and their ideologies.

Mr Sewell’s co-accused, Joel Davis, who is charged with displaying a Nazi symbol, also applied to have the communication ban lifted.

Magistrate Luke Davis refused the men’s application, noting the allegations suggested the men intended to cause “distress, offence and intimidation” to other people expressing their rights to demonstrate.

“In my view there’s a degree of fake innocence in the submissions and the positions of the defendants in this matter,” he said.

The charges were adjourned until next month.

Outside court, Mr Hopkins said it was an abomination to this country that we seem to ban or criminalise a legitimate political ideology.

“If you don’t like it so be it,” he said.

Originally published as National Socialist Network leader Thomas Sewell fails in bid to talk to fellow members charged over Australia Day protests