Man jailed for Wagner Group claims

A man from Hertfordshire has been jailed after carrying a knife and claiming to be part of the proscribed military organisation Wagner Group.

Piotr Kucharski has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment following an investigation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).

In October 2023, he turned up at a combat re-enactment in Stonham Aspal, Suffolk, after previously having been banned from the group. At the event, he threatened other participants, claiming he was a member of the Wagner Group and that he had fought in Ukraine. After a disagreement with another attendee, he made a cutthroat gesture slashed the air with a knife.

Kucharski was initially arrested for a public order offence and possession of a bladed article, and then was subsequently re-arrested under terrorism legislation after officers noticed Wagner Group badges sown to his camouflage jacket.

The investigation was passed to ERSOU’s Counter Terrorism Policing unit and he was charged with professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation, namely The Wagner Group, contrary to section 11 (1) of the Terrorism Act 2000.

There was no evidence to suggest that he was actually a member of the group or that he had fought in Ukraine.

Hannah Wilkinson, head of ERSOU, said: “Our Counter Terrorism Policing teams work tirelessly across the region to keep our communities safe, and we will continue to ensure those looking to cause harm and disruption are brought to justice.

“There’s no indication that Kucharski was a member of Wagner Group. However, it’s clear that he was intent on causing distress by indicating he had fought for the organisation in Ukraine, particularly given he was carrying a knife at the time. I’m grateful to local officers for promptly arresting him after concerned members of the public raised the alarm.”