THE founder of a neo-Nazi group who has admitted producing the deadly poison ricin was nothing more than a “monstrous dreamer”, a court was told yesterday.

Leading Aryan Strike Force member Ian Davison regarded himself as a “general or commander of some kind” and fantasised leading an army of right-wing extremists.

But the group was inept and could not even follow through its plans to put cockroaches through the letterboxes of its Muslim targets, said Peter Carter.

Mr Carter was summing up in his defence of Davison’s teenage son, Nicky, who is facing terror charges at Newcastle Crown Court.

The former milkman’s assistant has denied three charges of possessing documents that could be of use to terrorists.

At an earlier hearing, he told a jury he had joined the group because he wanted to please his racist father.

The court has been told the Aryan Strike Force – also known at Legion 88 and WolfPack – was preparing for paramilitary operations.

But Mr Carter said it was all bluster and posturing and the most they did was design emblems and logos for key rings and beermats.

Davison snr, of Burnopfield, County Durham, has pleaded guilty to six charges, including preparing for acts of terrorism, he said.

He added that what he was saying was “look what a big terrorist I am”.

Mr Carter said: “We can all hope that, despite the ricin that was found, he remains a monstrous dreamer.

“He was an individual who talked very big and talked very tough.”

Mr Carter said when police searched Mr Davison jnr’s home in Grampian Way, Annfield Plain, County Durham, they found nothing relating to training camps or bomb making. He said: “I am afraid this is where terrorism becomes a farce.

“And if we become besotted by the terrorism word, there is a danger we will lose all sense of proportion.”

Mr Carter added: “This is terrorism as a fantasy, not as a reality.”

The 19-year-old was arrested after electronic copies of The Poor Man’s James Bond and Anarchist’s Cookbook were found on two computers at his home.

But Mr Carter said it was a “mischievous”

friend who had downloaded these.

Mr Davison jnr denies all knowledge of the documents.

He has denied three charges of possessing a record containing information which could be useful to a person committing, or preparing to commit, acts of terrorism.

The jury will retire to consider its verdict this morning.

Davison snr will be sentenced at the conclusion of his son’s trial.