British man charged with arson after alleged recruitment as Russian spy

Five people - including one allegedly recruited as a Russian spy - have been charged with plotting to burn down a Ukrainian linked building.

Dylan James Earl, 20 of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire has been charged under the National Security Act 2023 – the first case to involve alleged offences under the new legislation.

Four other men - Jake Reeves, Dmitrijus Paulauska, Paul English and Nii Kojo Mensah - have also been charged in connection with the case.

The charges are in relation to alleged activity in the involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024.

The investigation is being led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

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Earl was arrested on April 10 under Section 27 of the National Security Act 2023 on suspicion of being involved in foreign power threat activity. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last Saturday (April 20) and was charged with aggravated arson and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service.

Reeves, 22 from Croydon was also charged with aggravated arson and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service. 

Paulauska, 22 from Croydon was charged with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts, contrary to section 38B of the Terrorism Act, 2000. Both men are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday April 26.

English, 60, from Roehampton and Kojo Mensah, 21, from Thornton Heath were charged with aggravated arson in London in March.

They appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday April 22 and were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday May 10.

Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “Dylan Earl, 20, is alleged to have engaged in conduct targeting businesses which were linked to Ukraine in order to benefit the Russian state.

“Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024.

“Two further men, Paul English, 60, and Nii Mensah, 21, have also been charged with aggravated arson in connection with this case. Another man, Jake Reeves, 22, has been charged with agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service as well as aggravated arson. A fifth man, Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, has been charged with having information about terrorist acts.”

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.”

Details of the charges the five men face are as follows:

Earl has been charged with aggravated arson, contrary to section 1(2) and (3) Criminal Damage Act 1971; preparatory conduct, contrary to section 18 of the National Security Act 2023; and assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3(1) and (9) of the National Security Act 2023.

Reeves has been charged with aggravated arson, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act, 1971 and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 17(2) and (11) of the National Security Act 2023.

Paulauska has been charged with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts, contrary to section 38B of the Terrorism Act, 2000.

English and Mensah are both charged with aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.