Six Britons working on behalf of Russia’s Wagner group have been handed jail terms for igniting a London-based warehouse that was holding humanitarian aid destined for Ukraine.
Sentencing and Roles
While delivering the sentences, the judge at the Old Bailey remarked that they had planned a “campaign of terrorism and sabotage” to benefit the Russian government.
The individual named Dylan Earl received a 17-year jail term with an additional six years on extended licence due to his “primary involvement”. Another defendant, Jake Reeves, from Croydon in south London, was sentenced to twelve years in prison with one year on supervised release. Their admitted crimes resulted in them being the first individuals to be convicted under the 2023 National Security Act.
Jakeem Rose, aged 23, also a Croydon resident, was jailed for eight years and 10 months. Nii Mensah, 23, a Thornton Heath, South London local, was given nine years and Ugnius Asmena, who was homeless, was given seven years in prison. These three individuals were each convicted of aggravated arson and given a further year on supervised release by the court.
Ashton Evans drug dealer hailing from Newport, Gwent, was sentenced to nine years plus a further year on extended licence after being convicted of failing to disclose details regarding terrorist acts connected to a separate scheme in Mayfair.
Incident Specifics
The deliberate fire on a warehouse in Leyton, east London put 60 firefighters at risk and caused one million pounds worth of destruction in March last year.
The proceedings revealed that Earl, 21 and the 24-year-old Reeves remained in their residences while organising the attack for the Wagner mercenary organization, acting on behalf of the Russian Federation.
The individuals involved selected the warehouse because it was being used to supply humanitarian aid and satellite communication gear to Ukraine.
When the same Ukrainian company was hit by an arson attack 10 days later in the Spanish capital, detectives from the Met’s counter-terrorism command took over the investigation.
Evidence and Further Plans
When Earl was arrested, law enforcement examination of his mobile phone uncovered he had recordings of the storage facility blaze being initiated and was in contact with the Wagner group on the Telegram messaging app, via an account with the handles ‘Privet Bot’ and ‘Lucky Strike’.
Some of the communications showed that preliminary surveillance for additional operations, involving fire-related incidents at a dining establishment and wine store in Mayfair owned by the Russian opposition figure Evgeny Chichvarkin had already taken place. The use of explosives to harm structures was also discussed.
Detectives discovered that the defendant Earl was also considering the possibility of kidnapping the dissident Chichvarkin and “exiling him back to Russia to face prison”.
The drug dealer from Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire had discussed an additional planned incident in the Czech Republic.
In a search of his home, police found a flag of Russia, over twenty thousand pounds in currency and cocaine hydrochloride with a market value of approximately thirty-four thousand pounds.
Driving Factors and Court Comments
The proceedings revealed he was a member of multiple pro-Russian propaganda channels and was driven by “plain and severe avarice”.
“This case is about the efforts of the Russian Federation to acquire harmful worldwide sway using social media to recruit disruptors far from the Russian capital.”
She determined the arson attack had a “terrorist connection” irrespective of if the individuals responsible were aware of it. The Wagner group is banned by the UK government as a terrorist organisation.
