Two men jailed after plotting series of arson attacks targeting Keir Starmer

The 22 and 27 year olds, were directed by an anonymous Telegram user called El Money.

According to reports, El Money has been linked to a Russian online sabotage network.

Last May, two houses linked to the Prime Minister were set on fire in north London.

A Toyota, previously owned by Sir Keir, was also set alight on May 8 in a street where he once lived in Kentish Town.

Following a trial, Ukrainian Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Romanian Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were convicted of conspiracy to damage property by fire.

In mitigation for Lavrynovych, James Scobie KC stressed the "shame" he had brought on his family in Ukraine.

Two men have been jailed after plotting a series of arson attacks targeting Keir Starmer

PA

Mr Scobie said: "He gained absolutely nothing from this. He was used on any view - utterly naive, utterly gullible, unthinking and a complete and utter foot soldier."

He added: "How worrying that is for us all that there are individuals like this who are fodder for this type of infiltration who has not got a clue who the ‘big man’ was - turns who to be the Prime Minister.

"He is what he is - a boy, and a very immature boy at that."

Mitigating for Carpiuc, defence barrister Shahid Rashid said his client was "always the money man".

He told the court: "His function was to realise the cryptocurrency. It is also important he was not going to get anything out of it. His motivation was helping a friend out who needed money desperately for his father’s medical treatment."

The attacks in the middle of the night while people were in bed asleep "posed a serious threat to life and left householders terrified", the Old Bailey previously heard.

Sir Keir's sister-in-law, who lived in one of the torched homes with her partner and daughter, said in a statement: "All of a sudden I heard two bangs. It was very loud and sounded like two wheelie bins had been thrown at the door."

"I did not see anyone on the street but when I looked down I saw smoke and an orange glow where the front door was."

After the sentencing, Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London, said: "The prison sentences in this case reflect the incredibly reckless actions of the two men involved.

"I would like to praise the swift work of the investigation team who identified the men involved within a few days of the fires. This was essential in ensuring that vital forensic and digital evidence was seized before it could be destroyed.

"One of the men - Carpiuc - was arrested at an airport, demonstrating how close he came to fleeing the country and escaping justice.

"Crimes, such as arson, being directed by anonymous online accounts promising payment, is a recurring trend in our casework.

"Our message to anyone who might be approached in this way, or thinking about doing similar, is to think again.

"As we’ve seen here, you will not get paid as you are promised, you will be identified and brought to justice, and the only thing you will be left with is facing the prospect of a lengthy jail sentence."