Supporter of racist movement in Australia escapes jail sentence

A supporter of Jack van Tongeren's neo-Nazi Australian Nationalist Movement (ANM) has avoided a jail sentence for the second time despite admitting his role in a racist graffiti spree around Perth which was waged by the group. 27-year-old Benjamin Weerheym pleaded guilty to a further seven criminal damage charges and one of theft, four weeks after being convicted for his part in the graffiti campaign waged by the ANM in July. Perth magistrate's court was told Weerheym acted as driver and lookout during the July incidents, and performed the same function during an attack on the office of West Australian Attorney General in August 2003 in which the phrase "Racist traitor - back off bitch" and swastikas were daubed his office by ANM members as Weerheym kept watch. He now denounces anything to do with the ANM. The judge said the six-month suspended jail sentence given to Weerheym for the previous offences was sufficient, and imposed similar sentences for the new charges, to be served concurrently.