A British man has pleaded guilty to an arson attack on a Ukraine-linked business and accepting pay from a foreign intelligence agency.
Jake Reeves, 23, admitted aggravated arson in relation to a fire in March at an east London warehouse belonging to a man only referred to in court as Mr X.
He pleaded guilty to an offence under the National Security Act 2023 of obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service.
Reeves, who appeared at Woolwich crown court 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 the UK.
Reeves, from Croydon, was charged with the offences as part of the first case conducted under the new espionage legislation.
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, 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.
Five other men have been charged in connection with the investigation. Paul English, 61, 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, 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.
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.
