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A 31-year-old man from Portsmouth has become the first person in the UK to be convicted of terrorist offences in connection with the conflict in Syria, the BBC reported. 

Father-of-two Mashudur Choudhury was convicted of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts.

The court heard he had travelled to Syria to attend a terrorist training camp. He was arrested at Gatwick Airport on his return to the UK.

Choudhury had told the court he wanted to emigrate to avoid problems at home.

Prosecutors at the trial at Kingston Crown Court said Choudhury had wanted to be trained in the use of firearms and intended to pursue a "political, religious or ideological cause."

They said he had discussed his wish to become a "martyr."

The court heard that Choudhury left the UK on 8 October 2013, travelling on a commercial flight to Turkey alongside four other men from the Portsmouth area.

He later travelled on to Syria, although prosecutors said it was not known what he had done there.

He was arrested on his return to the UK later that month.

Prosecutors said that before his trip Choudhury had been in regular contact via Skype with another man, Ifthekar Jaman, who had already gone to Syria.

The jury heard how Mr Jaman had been interviewed over Skype by a journalist from the BBC's Newsnight programme in which he admitted he was fighting in the country.

Prosecutors said that during the Skype exchanges Choudhury, a former youth worker, had asked Mr Jaman about weapons training and buying a handgun.

Mr Jaman, who is believed to have died fighting in Syria, told him his training would last between one and six weeks.