A man described as a 'useful idiot' has been jailed alongside an accomplice for a series of arson attacks targeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, carried out on the orders of a shadowy Russian-speaking handler. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, June 19, for their roles in the attacks in North London in May last year.
The Attacks and Sentencing
Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian, set fire to a Toyota Rav4 once owned by Sir Keir, as well as two houses linked to the Prime Minister. The Honourable Mr Justice Garnham sentenced Lavrynovych to seven years in prison, calling him a 'useful idiot' who took the leading role. Carpiuc, a Romanian, received two years for conspiracy to damage property by fire. Lavrynovych was convicted of two counts of damaging property by fire, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, and one count of conspiracy. He will serve four years in custody. Carpiuc will serve one year.
Role of the Handler
The court heard that Lavrynovych acted on instructions from an anonymous Telegram user known as 'El' or 'El Money', who offered him £3,000 in cryptocurrency to film the fires and ensure they made the news. The handler, writing in Russian, was linked to a Russian online sabotage network. After the attacks, El Money urged Lavrynovych to flee, saying he had attacked the home of a very high-ranking person in Britain.
Defence and Conviction
Lavrynovych's lawyer, James Scobie KC, described him as 'unintelligent' and 'utterly naive', claiming he was used and gained nothing. Carpiuc's barrister said he was 'always the money man', converting cryptocurrency. Both defendants claimed they were threatened or uninvolved, but an Old Bailey jury rejected their explanations and found them guilty of plotting to damage property. The judge noted that Lavrynovych did not care whether the houses were occupied, as the fires were set in a residential street in the early hours, endangering lives.
Impact on Victims
One resident's nine-year-old daughter was woken by smoke and terrified. The upstairs residents of another property saw smoke billowing up their stairs. The judge said setting fire to a door prevents exit from a home, highlighting the danger.
Prime Minister's Response
Sir Keir Starmer said 'justice had been done', particularly for his family. Speaking at the G7 conference in France, he noted the case should be seen in its broader context. However, Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said there was no evidence the attackers knew they were targeting the Prime Minister.
Police recovered over 320 messages between El Money and Lavrynovych on Telegram dating back to September 2024. Counter Terrorism Policing found no evidence linking the El Money account to any specific person, group, or organisation.
