An arsonist has admitted accepting money from a ‘foreign intelligence service’ before setting fire to a Ukrainian-owned parcel firm.

Jake Reeves, 23, was paid by a ‘foreign agent’ before he helped start the blaze in Leyton, east London, in March.

Co-defendant Dylan Earl, 20, was connected to the Wagner Group of mercenaries, which is contracted by Russia to fight in Ukraine. 

Earl became the first person to be charged under the National Security Act. At a previous hearing he admitted aggravated arson and endangering the life of a person or an act creating serious risk to the British public.

Reeves, who appeared at Woolwich Crown Court via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs, and Earl will be sentenced next year.

Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement when the men were charged in April that Earl’s actions were for the benefit of the Russian state. 

Prosecutor Duncan Penny gave no further details about the case against Reeves.

Three other men have also denied the aggravated arson charge, while a further suspect has yet to enter a plea. 

A seventh man has denied a charge of knowing about terrorist acts but failing to disclose the information to police. 

A trial over those outstanding charges is due to be held in June next year.

Britain’s relations with Russia have been at their most hostile in decades over Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and there have been a number of tit-for-tat accusations of spying. 

The UK’s domestic spy chief accused Russian intelligence services of seeking to cause ‘mayhem’, including by using arson.