Man accused of drone factory ‘sabotage plot’ for Russian forces

Joshua Cammidge, who previously lived in Acomb in York, allegedly researched four drone manufacturing sites in Swindon as well as a Wi-Fi-jamming device and is also said to have carried out reconnaissance.

It is alleged he communicated with and received instructions from an individual believed to be linked to the GRU Volunteer Corps, a group controlled by Russia’s intelligence services.

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The charges state that between March 27 and September 5 this year, Cammidge provided the individual with Google Maps screenshots showing the addresses of four drone manufacturing sites in Swindon and gave details on the activity at one particular factory.

Prosecutor Warren Stanier told Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday that Cammidge had been in contact with the individual on Facebook before agreeing to move to Telegram.

He said there were 58 communications between Cammidge and the individual from August 28 to September 3.

Mr Stanier said: “The prosecution say the essence of communications was locations within the UK of factories that manufactured drones and the sabotage of those factories.”

The 31-year-old appeared at the central London court wearing a prison-issue tracksuit.

Two security officers were present in the dock with the defendant, who spoke only to confirm his personal details.

Cammidge faces two counts, one of assisting a foreign intelligence service and another of intending to commit or engage in conduct to prepare an act of sabotage.

Mr Stanier told the court: “The prosecution case is he knew exactly who he was communicating with and the implications of what he was offering to do.”

The defendant did not enter a plea during the hearing and District Judge Daniel Sternberg remanded him into custody to appear at the Old Bailey on September 25.

Cammidge, of Galsworthy Close, Swindon, was arrested by Counter Terrorism Policing London officers, supported by officers from Wiltshire Police, at an address in Swindon on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said.

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

The next day, Cammidge was further arrested and detained under the National Security Act 2023, on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

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