A former Brit School student told jurors he was visited by a "red-horned devil" who demanded his worship during his terrorism trial at the Old Bailey. Declan George Candiani, 26, described the supernatural encounter that allegedly occurred in his bedroom around 2019.
The actor faces four charges of collecting information likely to be useful for terrorism. Counter-terrorism police discovered extreme right-wing material on his iPhone and iPad after stopping him at Stansted airport on 13 August 2024 as he attempted to travel to Finland with his girlfriend.
Devil pact and satanic interests
Candiani told the court he made a literal pact with the devil in late 2019 or 2020. "I agreed to be his minion, servant or slave by following his orders," he said when cross-examined by prosecutor Emily Dummett.
The defendant described the pact as "general" and "quite vague", saying he had not pledged to do anything specific. He developed his interest in Satanism after beginning theatre studies at the Brit School of Performing Arts.
Over four years, Candiani became interested in the satanic group Order of Nine Angles (O9A), which has been linked to right-wing extremism. He denied having a primary interest in extreme right-wing terrorist attacks, insisting his focus was on "O9A satanic ideology, this aspect of demons, this world beyond our world".
Neo-Nazi symbols and extremist groups
The court heard Candiani has a tattoo bearing the neo-Nazi symbol "88" - meaning Heil Hitler - on his chest. He admitted applying to join the right-wing extremist group Active Club after finding them on Telegram.
Candiani said he was attracted to their focus on physical fitness and self-improvement during a difficult period when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. "I was dealing a lot with my mum and just hated the world and I was very angry and upset," he told jurors.
Mental health and denials
The defendant's mental health deteriorated after his mother's cancer diagnosis, leading him down what he described as a "rabbit hole". He admitted to self-harming and sinking into depression during this period.
Candiani denied having an obsession with extreme violence, though he accepted interest in true crime and serial killers. He insisted he did not view mass killers like Anders Breivik as heroic, despite acknowledging that voices in his head had "admired" such figures.
The defendant from Streatham, south-west London, denied seeking out, discussing or sharing terrorist documents. He said he eventually got "cold feet" and stopped engaging with the Active Club group, and the trial at the Old Bailey continues.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
