A man has denied planning to "torch" UK drone factories on behalf of Russia's intelligence services in an alleged sabotage plot.

Joshua Cammidge, from Swindon in Wiltshire, is accused of researching four drone manufacturing sites in the town and carrying out reconnaissance.

On Friday, prosecutors told the Old Bailey the 31-year-old was in contact with a British national fighting for Russia in Ukraine, who he "offered to conduct sabotage" at the sites for.

A three-week trial has been scheduled to start in April 2027 at Winchester Crown Court.

Cammidge, of Galsworthy Close, appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link from HMP Wandsworth charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service and intending to commit or engage in conduct to prepare an act of sabotage.

Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska told the court Cammidge was in contact in Ukraine with Aiden Minnis, who is also from Wiltshire, in August and September.

She said Minnis "tasked the defendant with locating drone manufacturing sites in the UK".

Przybylska added Minnis discussed with the defendant "sabotaging" those sites.

Cammidge allegedly sent coordinates of the sites to Minnis and "offered to conduct sabotage" against those sites, the court heard.

"It was clear that it was to assist the Russian war effort," according to the prosecution.

Delivering Cammidge's indication of a not guilty plea, John Oliver from the defence said: "There was no intention [for the defendant] to assist or take part in sabotage or for anyone else to do so.

"Communications in which he engaged were nothing more than a waste of time and are not to be taken seriously."

The trial is set for 19 April 2027, and Cammidge will next appear before the court in January for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Cammidge, a father-of-one, was arrested by Counter Terrorism Policing London officers, supported by 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.

When interviewed by police, he strenuously denied all the charges against him.

The charges state that between 27 March and 5 September, Cammidge allegedly provided a Google Maps screenshot showing a drone factory with a blue circle indicating a particular location, and provided two Google screenshots showing the addresses of four drone manufacturing sites in Swindon.

It is also alleged he provided further details as to the activity at one factory and volunteered to commit an act of sabotage.

He is accused of conducting research about a WiFi jamming device, and is said to have carried out "reconnaissance".

The Crown Prosecution Service previously said the representative Cammidge was believed to be in contact with was from the GRU Volunteer Corps, a group controlled by Russia's intelligence services.

In July, the UK 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.

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