The war on Ukraine is now being fought on the streets of London, with three Croydon men among those arrested in Met’s counter-terrorism swoop
Croydon crooks: a court sketch of Dmitrijus Paulauska and Jake Reeves (right) appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ earlier this year
A man from Croydon has pleaded guilty to an arson attack on a Ukraine-linked business and to accepting pay from a foreign intelligence agency – effectively, of being part of a Russian spy ring, as the war in eastern Europe was brought to the streets of east London earlier this year.
Jake Reeves, 23, admitted aggravated arson in relation to a fire in March at a warehouse belonging to a man referred to in court only as “Mr X”.
It means that Reeves has become one of first to be arrested, charged and convicted using the powers and legislation brought in under the 2023 National Security Act.
Reeves, who appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday via video link, denied a further charge under the law of engaging in preparatory conduct for an act involving serious violence and endangering life in Britain.
Dylan Earl, 20, from Elmesthorpe in Leicestershire, admitted preparatory conduct and aggravated arson in relation to the fire at a hearing at the Old Bailey last month.
He was the first person to be charged under Section 18 of the National Security Act. Earl was accused in previous court hearings of carrying out the act on behalf of Wagner, the Russian mercenary group, which is proscribed in this country as a terrorist organisation.
Others arrested in connection with the arson attack also have links to Croydon.
Russian attack: the arson at this Leyton warehouse has been linked to the invasion of Ukraine
Nii Kojo Mensah, 22, from Thornton Heath, and Jakeem Barrington Rose, 22, from Croydon, together with Paul English, 61, and Ugnius Asmena, 19, are all charged with aggravated arson in connection with the fire in Leyton on March 20.
The charge states the men “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 previously pleaded not guilty to the arson charge, while Asmena has yet to enter a plea. Rose has previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place.
Another Croydon man, Dmitrijus Paulauskas, 22, has previously pleaded not guilty to failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts, contrary to Section 38B of the Terrorism Act 2000.
A trial over those outstanding charges is due to be held at the Old Bailey in June next year. Earl and Reeves will be sentenced after that trial.
In April, when the first arrests were made, the Metropolitan Police issued a statement in which they said: “The foreign state to which these charges relate is Russia.”
The investigation is related to a fire which broke out on an industrial estate on Staffa Road in Leyton, which the prosecution said was started using an accelerant such as petrol.
The BBC reported that Companies House records show that the companies based at the warehouse are Oddisey and Meest UK, both parcel delivery firms, owned by Mykhaylo Prykhodko, also known as Mikhail Boikov, and his wife Jelena Boikova, who both live in London.
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