Suspect in court over alleged Russian sabotage plot

A man was prepared to "sabotage" a UK drone factory on behalf of Russia's intelligence services, a court has heard.

Joshua Cammidge, from Swindon in Wiltshire, allegedly researched four drone manufacturing sites in the town and carried out reconnaissance.

The 31-year-old is charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service and intending to commit or engage in conduct to prepare an act of sabotage. It is alleged he communicated with an individual believed to be linked to the GRU Volunteer Corps, a group controlled by Russia's intelligence services.

Cammidge, of Galsworthy Close, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and was remanded in custody. He made no plea.

Cammidge was arrested by Counter Terrorism Policing London officers, supported by officers from Wiltshire Police, at an address in Swindon on 4 September.

He was taken to a London police station while searches were carried out at a different address in Swindon.

On 5 September, Cammidge was detained under the National Security Act 2023, on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

The charges he faces state that, between 27 March and 5 September this year, he provided Google Maps screenshots which showed addresses of four drone manufacturing sites in Swindon and gave details on activity at one particular factory.

Warren Stanier, prosecuting, told the court that Cammidge had been in contact with someone linked to the GRU Volunteer Corps on Facebook before they agreed to move their communications to Telegram.

He said the pair communicated 58 times between 28 August and 3 September.

"The prosecution say the essence of communications was locations within the UK of factories that manufactured drones and the sabotage of those factories.

"The prosecution case is he knew exactly who he was communicating with and the implications of what he was offering to do," Stanier added.

Cammidge will appear at the Old Bailey on 25 September.

In July, the government formally designated the GRU Volunteer Corps under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026, making it a criminal offence to express support for the group.

The group is sanctioned in its entirety by the UK, and hackers linked to the agency have been blamed for cyber attacks in Britain.

A GRU squad is also believed to be behind the attempted murder of former spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.

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