Sometimes the internet can be a strange and dangerous place, and for one Catholic priest in Cardiff, it became the scene of criminal mischief disguised as a twisted hobby.
Father Mark Rowles, 57, found himself in hot water after posing as a 16-year-old skinhead in neo-Nazi chatrooms – and using that persona to send threatening messages about bombing mosques.
Disturbing Messages and Threats
Rowles, who used the online handle ‘skinheadlad1488’, actively participated in a racist chatroom called Aryan Reich Killers.
Prosecutors revealed he sent multiple offensive and menacing messages via Telegram in May and June 2024.
Some of these posts included explicit calls for violence, like “bomb mosques” and extreme racial slurs, with comments such as “They should all be strung up and shot” and suggestions that “a few bullets to their brains would help.”
The court heard that Rowles’ profile picture reinforced his online persona: a young white man wearing a face covering, overlaid with a German flag and the phrase “right hand path always.”
The Legal Outcome
Despite the severity of his online threats, Rowles avoided jail.
On Thursday, he was ordered to pay a £199 fine, complete 150 hours of unpaid work, and comply with a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order.
The sentence reflects the court’s consideration of his lack of previous convictions, while still holding him accountable for the harm caused by his actions.
Priest Suspended and Church Review
The Catholic Church in Wales confirmed that Rowles had been suspended and was not in active ministry during the investigation.
A spokesperson indicated that the Church is undertaking a formal review into the matter.
While his behavior shocked many, his defenders pointed out that he had no prior complaints or disciplinary issues throughout his decades in the clergy.
Rowles’ Explanation
When interviewed by police after his arrest, Rowles claimed he was not racist.
Instead, he explained that his messages were part of a “sexual fetish for role play” and that he had acted out of loneliness.
Nevertheless, the court heard that his posts displayed “hostility based on religion and race,” with prosecutors emphasizing the seriousness of threatening others in a counter-terrorism context.
The Broader Implications
This case highlights the sometimes fine line between fantasy roleplay and criminal intent, especially when threats are targeted at vulnerable communities.
Even if Rowles’ motivation was personal or sexual in nature, the potential danger of his messages was real, prompting police and counter-terror teams to act swiftly.