British man with 'Russian ties' admits setting fire to Ukraine-linked business in London after getting paid by foreign intelligence
Conservative Peer Shaun Bailey backs Labour’s decision to support Ukraine
GB News
A British man with "Russian-ties" has pleaded guilty to carrying out an arson attack on a Ukraine-linked business and accepting payment from a foreign intelligence agency.
Jake Reeves, 23, admitted to aggravated arson in relation to a fire at an east London warehouse belonging to a person identified only as Mr X.
The Croydon resident appeared at Woolwich Crown Court via video link, where he also pleaded guilty to obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act 2023.
Reeves denied an additional charge under the same law of engaging in preparatory conduct for an act involving serious violence and endangering life in the UK.
Court sketch of Dmitrijus Paulauska and Jake Reeves (right) appearing at Westminster magistrates' court in central London earlier this year
PA
The arson attack took place in March at a warehouse in Leyton.
This case marks one of the first prosecutions under the new National Security Act, which was introduced to combat hostile state activities targeting the UK.
Dylan Earl, 20, from Elmesthorpe in Leicestershire, had previously pleaded guilty to both preparatory conduct and aggravated arson in relation to the same fire at an Old Bailey hearing last month.
Earl was previously accused in court of carrying out the act on behalf of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK.
MORE LIKE THIS:
Five other men have been charged in connection with the investigation.
Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 22, Jakeem Barrington Rose, 22, and Ugnius Asmena, 19, all face charges of aggravated arson related to the fire on March 20.
The charge alleges they "damaged by fire commercial premises belonging to Mr X intending to destroy such property and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered".
English, Mensah and Rose have entered not guilty pleas to the arson charge, while Asmena has yet to enter a plea.
Reeves appeared at Woolwich Crown Court via video link
PARose has additionally pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place.
A sixth defendant, Dmitrijus Paulauskas, 22, has pleaded not guilty to failing to disclose information about terrorist acts.
A trial for the outstanding charges is scheduled to take place at the Old Bailey in June next year.
Both Reeves and Earl will be sentenced after the conclusion of this trial.
Earl was notably the first person to be charged under Section 18 of the Act, which was specifically introduced to address threats from hostile states targeting the UK.
You may like
