A teenager is facing years behind bars after being found guilty of plotting to behead a British soldier inspired by the murder of Lee Rigby.

Brusthom Ziamani, 19, was arrested in an east London street in August last year carrying a knife and a hammer in a rucksack, having earlier researched the location of army cadet bases in Lewisham and Blackheath.

Ziamani was convicted of preparing an act of terrorism on or before August 20 last year at the Old Bailey today.

The court heard he reverted to Islam last year and was arrested after showing his ex-girlfriend weapons.

He also described Fusilier Rigby's killer Michael Adebolajo as a "legend" and told her he would "kill soldiers".

At the time he was first arrested last June on an unrelated matter, police found a ripped-up letter in his jeans pocket in which he wrote about mounting an attack on a British soldier and expressed the desire to die a martyr.

TODAY'S TOP STORIES:

On the letter, he said: "I was ranting and raging about the situation in Muslim countries which was described in these talks. I did not believe it at all."

He explained his Facebook postings as an attempt to "fit in" with the ALM group, saying: "I did not believe it. I wanted to fit in with these people because they were giving me places to stay and they did not like moderate Islam."

He rejected the suggestion he styled himself as Mujahid Karim after one of Fusilier Rigby's killers, saying the Muslim first name meaning "fighter, a warrior" suited his character because he used to do boxing and wrestling.

Ziamani was born in London to Congolese parents. His mother worked as a nursery nurse and his father was a psychiatric nurse.

Defending, lawyer Naeem Mian told the jury that Ziamani could not be convicted for having "offensive" or "repulsive" views and there was no evidence that he had actually carried out any reconnaissance for a terror attack.

He said: "We all have the right to have an interest in gore and grisly stuff. We have the right to have undoubtedly repulsive views, some of which he has expressed. He is not on trial for his views."