A man has appeared in court charged with preparing to "sabotage" a UK drone factory on behalf of Russia's intelligence services. Joshua Cammidge, 31, from Swindon, Wiltshire, allegedly researched four drone manufacturing sites in the town and carried out reconnaissance.
Mr Cammidge 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.
Mr Cammidge, of Galsworthy Close, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and was remanded in custody without entering a plea. He was arrested on 4 September by Counter Terrorism Policing London officers, supported by Wiltshire Police, at an address in Swindon.
The charges state that between 27 March and 5 September this year, he provided Google Maps screenshots of four drone manufacturing sites in Swindon and gave details on activity at one factory. Mr Cammidge will appear at the Old Bailey on 25 September.
The GRU Volunteer Corps was formally designated by the government in July under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026, making it a criminal offence to express support for the group. The group is sanctioned by the UK, and hackers linked to the agency have been blamed for cyber attacks in Britain.