Priest Avoids Jail Despite Posting 'Bomb Mosques' Message

A Catholic priest who admitted discussing bombing mosques and shooting Black people in neo-Nazi online chatrooms has been sentenced to a 12-month community order, avoiding prison time.

Father Mark Rowles, 57, of St John Lloyd Catholic Church in Cardiff, Wales, used the alias "skinheadlad1488" in a Telegram chatroom called Aryan Reich Killers where he posted violent and racist messages targeting Muslims and Black people.

On October 30, 2025, at Cardiff magistrates' court, Rowles admitted three counts of sending menacing or offensive messages using the Telegram app in May and June 2024. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and pay £199 in court costs. He will also be subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order for three years.

The court heard that Rowles wrote several offensive messages, including one in which he wrote "bomb mosques." In another message using a racial slur, he wrote "they should all be strung up or shot." In a discussion with another user about London's ethnic diversity, Rowles wrote: "A few bullets to their brains would help."

Rob Simkins, prosecuting, said the messages showed "hostility based on religion and race."

Anti-terrorism detectives were investigating far-right hate groups when they identified Rowles through the Telegram app and his mobile phone. The court was told he described himself in an online profile as a 16-year-old skinhead neo-Nazi and a loner. His profile picture showed a young white man with a face covering, alongside a German flag and the words "right hand path always."

During police interviews, Rowles told officers he was not racist and that he joined the online groups because he was lonely and had a "sexual fetish for role play."

Jacqui Seal, defending, said: "Clearly this is a disturbing case. Throughout his life in the Catholic Church, he has never been the subject of a complaint or disciplinary action."

A spokesperson for the Catholic Church in Wales said Rowles had not been in active ministry since the allegations were revealed. The Catholic Church in Wales will be carrying out its own review.

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