A British man, 20, has pleaded guilty to an offence under the new National Security Act and an arson attack on a Ukraine-linked business.
Dylan Earl, from Elmesthorpe in Leicestershire, admitted the charge in relation to a fire in March at an east London warehouse belonging to a man only referred to in court as Mr X, the Old Bailey heard.
Earl is believed to be the first person to be convicted of an offence under the National Security Act 2023 after pleading guilty to preparatory conduct to commit acts involving serious violence and endangering life in the UK.
He was the first person to be charged under Section 18 of the act, which was introduced in response to the threat of hostile activity from states targeting the UK. Earl was accused in previous court hearings of carrying out the act on behalf of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which the UK has proscribed as a terrorist organisation.
Wearing a blue shirt and dark tie, Earl spoke to confirm his name and enter pleas to three charges. He denied one count of assisting a foreign intelligence service, which the prosecution said would be accepted without the need for him to stand trial.
Six other men have also been charged in connection with the investigation. Paul English, 61, Jake Reeves, 23, Nii Kojo Mensah, 22, Jakeem Barrington Rose, 22, and Ugnius Asmena, 19, are all charged with aggravated arson in connection with the fire in Leyton on 20 March. 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, who appeared in the dock beside Earl, denied the charge, as did Mensah and Rose, who appeared together via a video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs.
Asmena and Reeves, who also appeared in the link were not arraigned on the arson charge. Reeves has also been charged with preparatory conduct and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act.
Rose has previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place.
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.
The defendants, except Earl, will appear at a hearing on 22 November. A trial date has been set for 2 June 2025 at the Old Bailey.