Roehampton Man Accused of Involvement in Russian Spy Plot
Paul English allegedly paid to set fire to Ukrainian-owned business
The charges were the first to be made under new national security legislation
April 26, 2024
A 60-year-old man from Roehampton has appeared in court to face charges of aggravated arson after he was allegedly paid to set fire to a building by a Russian spy.
Paul English appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this Monday (22 April) accused of setting fire to a Ukrainian-linked commercial building in London along with 21-year-old Nii Kojo Mensah from Thornton Heath.
The prosecution is alleging that they were paid by 20-year-old Dylan James Earl from Leicestershire who is accused of working for Russian intelligences services. It was added that ‘at this point in time’ there was no evidence to suggest that Mr English and his accomplices were aware that they may have been working for a hostile foreign power and that they carried out the attack for financial gain.
The court was told that Mr English collected Mr Mensah and drove him to the scene. There was a lorry driver asleep in his near the building who was able to alert the emergency services before the fire took hold although there was still significant damage to the building.
The three men have been charged in connection with an investigation into alleged offences under the National Security Act, as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation. The charges are the first to be brought about under the new legislation that came into effect in December 2023.
The investigation is being led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and has been supported by officers from CTP East Midlands, Leicestershire Police, CTP South East and Kent Police. Enquiries remain ongoing.
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, which is leading the investigation, said: “This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us. Not only are the charges that have been authorised by the CPS extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act.
“We have spoken publicly in recent times about various threats linked to national security that we have been facing, and the increase in operational activity required across Counter Terrorism Policing to meet these.
“While these are very serious allegations, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them in connection with this matter. This investigation remains ongoing, but now that charges have been brought about I would urge everyone to respect the criminal justice process and not to speculate or comment further in relation to this case.”
Dylan James Earl was also charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service. In addition, 22-year-old Jake Reeves from Croydon has been charged with aggravated arson and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service. 22-year-old Dmitrijus Paulauska, also of Croydon, has been charged with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts.
Mr English, Mr Mensah and Mr Earl have been remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at the Old Bailey on 10 May.
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