Man arrested in B&Q car park jailed for Russia-backed arson

Dylan Earl from Elmsthorpe and Jake Reeves have become the first people to be prosecuted using the National Security Act 2023.

In total, five men have been sentenced for their involvement in the arson attack, which was ordered by Russia, and saw almost £1 million of damage caused to two industrial units in Leyton, containing supplies for Ukraine, were deliberately set alight on 20th March 2024. 

As part of the  investigation by Counter Terrorism Police London, it was found that Dylan Earl, aged 21, had made contact with a private military organisation that acts on behalf of the Russian state, in 2023. He then worked with Jake Reeves to recruit others to help them and they organised surveillance of two businesses in Mayfair in preparation for further arson attacks.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “This case is clear example of an organisation linked to the Russian state using ‘proxies’ – in this case British men – to carry out very serious criminal activity in this country on their behalf.

“The ringleaders – Earl and Reeves – acted willingly as hostile agents on behalf of the Russian state. I am pleased that, working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, we were able to use the new National Security Act legislation, which meant the severity of Earl and Reeves’s offending was reflected in the charges they faced.

“In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of counter-state-threat investigations and the use of ‘proxies’ is a new tactic favoured by hostile states such as Russia.

“For anyone tempted to carry out similar criminal activity, either for payment or ideological reasons, the long prison sentences in this case should act as a stark warning on the serious consequences of committing offences on behalf of a foreign country.”

Detectives from the Met's Counter Terrorism command took over the investigation after they became aware that another warehouse belonging to the same Ukrainian company was set on fire in Madrid, Spain.

Dylan Earl was the first to be arrested in a B&Q car park in Hinckley on 10 April 2024. Analysis of his mobile phone revealed his contact with the Wagner Group on Telegram, via an account with the usernames ‘Privet Bot’ and ‘Lucky Strike’.

Detectives used data from his phone, including,  5702 instant messages, 1244 e-mails, 51528 images, 3629 videos, 183 documents and 4840 social media files and some of the content required translation from Russian.

Officers believe they prevented Earl from carrying out two other arson attacks at premises in Mayfair. 

Analysis of Earl’s Telegram messages showed the first person he recruited for the warehouse arson plot was Reeves, who then recruited his friend Mensah to carry out the arson. In turn, Mensah recruited his friend Rose. Asmena was also recruited to take part.

The investigation team established that three men – Mensah, Rose and Asmena – met up on the evening of 20 March 2024 and travelled in a red Kia Picanto to the scene of the arson. Officers found evidence that Mensah filmed the warehouse being set alight and livestreamed it on Face Time to Earl and Reeves.

At the Old Bailey on 24 October,  Earl was sentenced to 23 years, including 17 years in custody after pleading guilty to preparatory conduct, contrary to section 18 of the National Security Act (NSA) 2023, aggravated arson, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property.

The other men were sentenced as follows:

Jake Reeves from Croydon  - 13 years, including 12 years in custody. He pleaded guilty to agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 17(2) and (11), NSA 2023, and aggravated arson

Mensah from Thorton Heath - 10 years, including nine years in custody was convicted of aggravated arson.  

Rose from Croydon - 9 years including eight years in custody. Rose previously pleaded guilty to having a bladed article in a public place (in relation to a knife he left at the scene of the arson in Leyton). He was also convicted of aggravated arson. 

Asmena of no fixed address - Total of eight years, including seven years in custody. The 21-year-old was convicted of aggravated arson.

Evans of Newport, Gwner - 9 years in custody. Found guilty of one count of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts. Evans also previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.