Man jailed 15 years for Ulez camera bomb
Kevin Rees detonated explosives in Sidcup, damaging property and narrowly missing serious harm.
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Kevin Rees, aged 63, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Thursday for detonating explosives at an Ultra Low Emission Zone camera. The explosion occurred on 6 December 2023 in Wellesley Avenue, Sidcup, South East London, at approximately 18:45 GMT. The blast caused damage to cars and houses within a 100-metre radius, with shrapnel reaching the exterior of a child's bedroom, according to reports from BBC London.
Conviction and Sentencing
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Rees, a retired electrical appliances engineer residing at Harcourt Avenue, Sidcup, was convicted in January at Woolwich Crown Court of causing an explosion likely to endanger life. During his trial, Rees expressed strong opposition to the Ulez scheme and the Mayor of London, Lord Sadiq Khan. The Metropolitan Police stated that Judge Anthony Bate ruled the offence had a "terrorism connection", which resulted in a more severe sentence and stricter controls upon Rees's release.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Derham, who leads local policing in the Bexley area, described the incident as miraculous, noting that nobody was killed or seriously injured. He added that Rees demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety of those in the vicinity, driven by his dissatisfaction with the Ulez scheme. Police identified and arrested Rees on 18 December 2023. A search of his home uncovered chemicals suitable for making explosives. Rees also admitted to three counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, relating to stud guns found at his property, for which he received a concurrent three-year sentence.
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TfL Response
Siwan Hayward, TfL's director of security, policing and enforcement, characterised Rees's actions as a reckless and highly dangerous act that could have resulted in significant harm or fatalities. She emphasised that tampering with or damaging TfL property is unacceptable and poses serious risks to public safety. Ms Hayward stated that any incidents involving TfL infrastructure are reported to the police and will not impede the operation of the Ulez scheme.
Questions this report answers
+Why was Kevin Rees sentenced to 15 years in jail?
Kevin Rees was sentenced to 15 years in jail for detonating explosives at a Ulez camera in Sidcup on 6 December 2023. The judge ruled that the offence had a terrorism connection, which led to a tougher sentence than would otherwise have been imposed.
+What damage did the explosion cause?
The explosion caused by Kevin Rees damaged cars and houses up to 100 metres away from the Ulez camera. Shrapnel from the blast was reported to have reached the outside of a child's bedroom.
+What other offences did Kevin Rees admit to?
In addition to causing an explosion likely to endanger life, Kevin Rees admitted to possessing prohibited weapons. He received a concurrent three-year sentence for these offences, which related to stud guns found at his property.
WE FILE
No invented reporter. No hidden source trail.
The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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