Criminal damage aimed at impairing the delivery of aid to Ukraine - Sentencing

At the Old Bailey on 24 October 2025, six individuals were sentenced by Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb. Sentencing remarks are available via the judiciary website. They were a group who carried out a serious act of criminal damage intended by their paymasters to impair the delivery of aid to Ukraine.

The 6 individuals were: DYLAN JAMES EARL, JAKE SAMUEL REEVES, NII KOJO MENSAH, JAKEEM BARRINGTON ROSE, UGNIUS ASMENA, ASHTON EVANS. The defendants were aged between 19 and 22 years at the relevant time. 

Dylan Earl:

He was sentenced (para 24) for 

• aggravated arson - terrorist connection (Sentencing Act 2020 section 69) and the 'foreign power connection' - section 69A(3) - extended sentence (9 years + 6 years licence)

• preparatory conduct contrary to National Security Act 2023 section 18 - sentence 6byears consecutive

• possession of cocaine (Class A) with intent to supply - sentence 2 years consecutive

In total, his sentences amount to 23 years made up by 17 years imprisonment plus 6 years on licence.

Jake Reeves:

Was sentenced (para 45) for

• aggravated arson - sentence 9 years + 1 year licence 

• agreeing to accept a material benefit - National Security Act 2023 section 17(2) - sentence 3 years consecutive

Treason? 

In relation to Earl and Reeves, the judge said:

'Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves were able to muster a group who carried out a serious act of criminal damage intended by their paymasters to impair the delivery of aid to Ukraine. They planned further grave crimes to intimidate, undermine and frighten those speaking up for Ukraine, which were prevented through police disruption.

The overall picture giving rise to this investigation is a very serious one indeed. It is of interference in the lives of people in Britain, by a foreign power leveraging the greed and base instincts of unsophisticated individuals. Relations between Ukraine and the United Kingdom have existed since Ukrainian independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The two countries enjoy close political, military, and economic co-operation. Ukraine is an ally that Britain is supporting, at very significant cost, in a war that has now raged for three years. In past years our parents and grandparents would have had a simple term for what Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves did: treason.'

I have highlighted the last sentence because it is perhaps of some legal interest. No charge of treason has been brought since the end of World War 2.  The last treason trial in the UK was that of William Joyce, also known as Lord Haw-Haw, who was executed by hanging in 1946. He was convicted of treason for his involvement in Nazi propaganda during World War II.  

The death penalty is now forbidden in any State that adheres to the European Convention on Human Rights - see Protocol 13.  

The law of treason is of ancient origin and, to say the least, is a disgrace to our criminal law.  This blog took as look at it back in 2012 - see HERE.

Whether 'our parents and grandparents' would have considered the serious offending of Earl and Reeves to be treason is a moot point. Perhaps they would but whether, at the present day, it would amount to treason under the law of England is questionable.  The Treason Act 1351 provides that one type of treason is levying 'war against our Lord the King in his Realm' or to 'be adherent to the King’s Enemies in his Realm, giving to them Aid and Comfort in the Realm, or elsewhere.

Is Russia an enemy? It is true that relations between the UK (and almost all other European nations) are at present unfriendly (e.g. BBC 6 February 2025) but diplomatic relations continue. Would Russia be considered to be an enemy for the purposes of the law of treason? Interestingly, in the Roussev case (previous post) the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) held that the word "enemy" in the Official Secrets Act 1911 (now repealed) included a country which represents a current threat to the national security of the UK. The 1911 Act is now replaced by the National Security Act 2023 which prefers the term 'foreign power.' The governmental view is that Russia does currently pose a threat to UK security.

It is now 48 years since the Law Commission considered the law of treason - see their Report. The Commission considered that

 

 (There were additional proposals)

Other offenders

Mensah - aggravated arson - 10 years imprisonment (comprising 9 custody + 1 year licence) 

Rose - aggravated arson - 8 years detention + 1 year licence) - and an additional 10 months for possession of a bladed article

Asmena - aggravated arson - 7 years detention + 1 year licence

Evans - Failing to disclose information (Terrorism Act 2000 s38B) - 6 years + 1 year licence. An additional 3 years for possession of Class A drug with intent to supply. 

For all six offenders various ancillary orders were also made - (as set out in the sentencing remarks).