A British man accused of being a spy for Russia allegedly recruited two men to burn down a building in London.

Dylan James Earl, 20, from Leicestershire, appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Saturday, 20 April.

Judge Daniel Sternberg initially put reporting restrictions in place to prevent the identification of Mr Earl, his co-accused, and the details of their alleged crimes. 

Those restrictions have now been lifted and it can also be reported that two other men, Paul English, 60, and Nii Kojo Menash, 21, have been charged with aggravated arson in relation to the case.

Earl ‘hired men to commit attack’

Mr English, of Roehampton, south-west London, and Mensah, of Thornton Heath, south-east London, spoke only to confirm their names and addresses when they appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Monday.

David Cawthorne, prosecuting, said that Mr English had been recruited by Mr Earl, along with two other individuals, to participate in an attack on the building.

The court was told there was “no suggestion at this point in time” that Mr Mensah and Mr English knew why the property was being targeted. 

Significant fire ‘caused serious damage’

Mr Cawthorne said the men allegedly committed the crime “because they were willing to engage in a serious criminal enterprise for financial gain”. 

The court heard that Mr English collected Mr Mensah and drove to the location of a “commercial premises” in London.

The prosecutor said that CCTV showed the building after it had allegedly been set alight. 

Mr Cawthorne added: “There happened to be a lorry driver asleep in his cab right next to the commercial premises. He was alerted and called the emergency services.

“This was a significant fire causing serious damage, a number of fire units attended and the fire service were able to put it out.”

Mr English, Mr Mensah and Mr Earl were remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at the Old Bailey on May 10.