A British Muslim with links to one of Fusilier Lee Rigby's murderers has been jailed for inciting terrorism.

Ibrahim Abdullah-Hassan, 28, of Carr Road in Walthamstow, and Shah Jalal Hussain, 31, of Cannon Street Road, in Whitechapel, were both sentenced to three years behind bars at the Old Bailey yesterday.

The pair who previously denied publishing lectures calling for a holy war against the West admitted to encouraging terrorism and disseminating terrorist material on March 24.

Abdullah-Hassan, also known as Abu Nusaybeh, was arrested on May 24 last year immediately following an interview on BBC Newsnight during which he claimed his friend, killer Michael Adebolajo, had been offered a job by MI5.

Searches were carried out at the Walthamstow and Whitechapel addresses by the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Unit and he was charged on May 31, together with Hussain on June 5. 

The 28 year-old father-of-two and Hussain had previously been involved with the Islamic extremist group al-Muhajiroun, led by controversial radical cleric Anjem Choudary of Walthamstow.

Both men shared video lectures through a website they shared and uploaded them to YouTube calling for Muslims to engage physically in violent "jihad" and support "jihad" financially.

Police were aware of at least five audio files which carried violent extremist material and were uploaded to the internet in November 2012 including lectures by 'Abu Nusaynah' entitled "In Pursuit of Allah's Governance on Earth".

Under the pseudonym of Abu Muwahhid, Hussain identified 20 ways in which a Muslim can die for Allah and be assured of a place in paradise.

Terrorism commander Duncan Ball said the men had posted material online which "clearly had the potential to incite terrorism and in doing so put public at risk."

He added: "This case underlines our commitment and ability to tackle those who support and encourage terrorism by whatever means they use."

In February, Adebolajo, 29, was jailed for a minimum of 45 years for the murder of Fusilier Rigby in a Woolwich street on May 22 2013.