Swindon man ‘planned to help Russian sabotage of UK drone factory’

A man has appeared in court charged with terror offences after allegedly planning to assist Russian security forces with the sabotage of a drone factory.

Joshua Cammidge, 31, is accused of helping the GRU Volunteer Corps.

He allegedly researched four drone manufacturing sites as well as a WiFi jamming device, and allegedly carried out reconnaissance.

The man, from Swindon, was arrested by counter-terror police – supported by officers in Wiltshire – on September 5.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday wearing a prison-issue grey tracksuit, facing two terror counts.

He was charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section three of the National Security Act 2023.

He was also charged with ‘preparatory conduct’, an offence under the same act.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) alleged that he was planning to commit or prepare for an act of sabotage.

It is alleged he was communicating and receiving instructions from an individual allegedly connected to the GRU Volunteer Corps. 

Prosecutor Warren Stanier told the court that the allegations of planned sabotage would be against drone manufacturers in the Swindon area.

He said a mobile telephone was seized during the arrest.

He told the court: ‘He had in his possession a mobile telephone. Most of the evidence came from the mobile telephone.’

He said the prosecution alleges he was in contact with a man who instructed him to do a ‘recce’ of potential targets.

One was a drone factory near the defendant’s house.

Stanier told the court the defendant was allegedly willing to assist.

Cammidge did not enter a plea during the hearing.

District Judge Daniel Sternberg adjourned the case until a hearing at the Old Bailey on 25 September. 

He said: ‘I will simply send this case to the Central Criminal Court.’

The defendant was remanded in custody.

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