A radicalised High Wycombe teenager is facing jail for sharing Islamic State propaganda on WhatsApp following a police investigation.

Supermarket assistant Iftikhar Ali, of Totteridge Drive, was found guilty today (Wednesday) after he sent several WhatsApp messages which glorified acts of terrorism between September and October 2015.

He was aged 18 and living at home with his parents, and had a job at Sainsbury's, at the time he sent extremist material on his mobile phone.

It can now be reported that Ali was friends with convicted terrorist Taha Hussain, who was filmed driving past Windsor Castle shouting “Allahu akbar” and “burn in hell”.

After the now 19-year-old Ali was arrested, detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing South East also found a publication “likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”.

In December 2015, Ali had been identified by the Prevent team but he failed to engage with them.

He was arrested on March 10 last year over a payment of £140 via Western Union to a man in Turkey, which he claimed in police interviews was for “charitable purposes”.

Examination of his mobile phone revealed Ali had an avid interest in IS, with material including audio files of radical preacher Anwar al Awlaki, and images of executions as well as Hussain's Windsor video.

Prosecutor Mark Paltenghi said Ali's offences spanned six months between September 8, 2015, and his arrest.

He said: “It is the Crown's case that although he was young, he had already become a radicalised proponent and supporter of extreme Islamism.”

Ali sent a string of audio files on WhatsApp containing Nasheeds (songs), with titles such as For the Sake of Allah and Give Our Regards to Abu Bakr and Oh Islamic State You Light the World.

Following his arrest, police also recovered an alleged terrorist document entitled Advice for those doing Hijrah (migration), jurors were told.

In a police interview, Ali said: “I have no links to any terrorist network. I was interested for research and curiosity purposes only as to what was going on in the Middle East. I'm not part of Islamic State or any other organisation.”

Ali did not react as the jury delivered its unanimous verdicts and his “distraught” mother, grandmother and siblings reportedly looked on in the public gallery.

Judge Mark Dennis QC thanked jurors for their “public service” saying: “Much of what you have had to look at has been very distressing and I'm sorry for that.”

He rejected a request for Ali to have bail while a pre-sentence report was being compiled.

Adjourning sentencing until January 26, the judge told him a lengthy custodial sentence was “inevitable”.

Ali was initially charged in December 2016 with the offences and found guilty today of 12 counts of transmission of a terrorism publication, contrary to section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006, and one count of possession of a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Detective chief superintendent Kath Barnes, head of CTP South East, said: “It is clear from the evidence that has been presented that Ali had displayed support for Islamist ideology and used WhatsApp to spread propaganda which clearly encourages others to commit terrorist acts.

“Today's conviction sends out a strong message that actions such as those carried out by Ali will not be tolerated and Counter Terrorism Policing, including officers and staff in the South East will continue to identify those responsible for sharing this kind of content, gather evidence and bring them before the courts, so that they may face justice.

“We will be relentless in our efforts to keep people safe.

If you have concerns about a loved one, you can get help either through your local police station by calling 101 or visit www.preventtragedies.co.uk for information on how to spot the signs and prevent vulnerable people from being targeted.

Detective chief superintendent Barnes added: “We want to prevent potential tragedies and we need the support of communities in doing this.”

If you see or hear something that could be terrorist related, you can call the police in confidence on 0800 789 321 .

In an emergency, always dial 999. Visit gov.uk/ACT for more information, including how to report extremist or terrorist content that you come across online.