Man jailed for 15 years over Ulez camera blast

A man who blew up a ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) camera in south-east London has been jailed for 15 years.

Kevin Rees, 63, detonated the explosives in the camera in Wellesley Avenue, Sidcup, at about 18:45 GMT on 6 December 2023.

The device damaged cars and houses up to 100m away, with shrapnel hitting outside of a child's bedroom. Rees, of Harcourt Avenue, Sidcup, was convicted in January at Woolwich Crown Court of causing an explosion likely to endanger life.

During the trial, the retired electrical engineer told the jury he "strongly opposed" the Ulez scheme and the mayor of London, Lord Sadiq Khan.

The Metropolitan Police said Judge Anthony Bate, who delivered the sentence at the Old Bailey, ruled that the offence had a "terrorism connection", resulting in a tougher sentence and stricter controls after Rees's release.

"It was miraculous that nobody was killed or seriously injured in the large explosion caused by Rees," said Det Ch Supt James Derham, who leads local policing in the Bexley area.

"He showed a complete disregard for the welfare and safety of the people who live in, or were travelling through, the area at the time of the explosion – all because he was unhappy with the Ulez scheme."

The jury previously heard how Rees travelled in his Smart car from his home in Sidcup to Shuttle Close, where a Ulez camera had been installed earlier that day before being cut down in a separate incident.

The retired electrical appliances engineer planted the device on the camera and lit a fuse.

Rees was identified and arrested on 18 December 2023. Officers searched his home and found chemicals that could be used to make explosives.

Rees was also sentenced to three years, to run concurrently, after admitting three counts of possessing a prohibited weapon in relation to stud guns, which were also discovered at the property.

Rees denied any involvement in the explosion and told jurors he believed his arrest was due to his posts in "anti-Ulez" groups on Facebook.

Police said they found posts which encouraged the damage of the cameras.

When he was arrested by counter-terror police on 18 December, Rees asked officers if his arrest had "something to do with the anti-Ulez sites".

He told the trial: "I assumed it was just the so-called Facebook police."

Siwan Hayward, TfL's director of security, policing and enforcement, described Rees's actions as "a reckless and highly dangerous act that could have caused serious harm and resulted in the loss of life".

"Tampering with or damaging TfL's property is unacceptable and seriously risks the safety of the public. Those attempting to interfere with Ulez infrastructure show a complete disregard for the law," Hayward said.

"Any such incident on our network is reported to the police and will not stop the Ulez operating."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]