A man from Hertfordshire has been jailed, after he was detained at a combat re-enactment event in possession of a knife while claiming to be a member of the proscribed military organisation Wagner Group.
Piotr Kucharski, 49, of The Glebe, Watford, sentenced on Friday November 1st to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment following an investigation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).
In October 2023, Kucharski had attended a combat re-enactment in Stonham Aspal, Suffolk, despite previously being banned from the group. While there, he threatened other participants, telling them he was a member of Wagner Group and that he had previously fought in Ukraine. Following a disagreement with another attendee, Kucharski made a cutthroat gesture and, while walking away from others, began slashing the air with a knife.
After officers from Suffolk Police were called, he was initially arrested for a public order offence and possession of a bladed article, although he was subsequently re-arrested under terrorism legislation after officers noticed Wagner Group badges sown to his camouflage jacket.
The investigation was then passed to ERSOU’s Counter Terrorism Policing unit, with enquires showing he had gone to significant lengths to convince others he was a member of the group. He was subsequently 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 a legitimate member of the group, nor that he had fought in Ukraine, however purporting to be a member of a proscribed organisation is a serious offence under terrorism legislation.
At a Central Criminal Court hearing, Kucharski was jailed for two years and six months, will be subject to license conditions for a year post-release, and faces notification requirements for 10 years.
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.”
If you have any concerns about someone you know expressing extreme views, you can report them to your local force by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency, or by visiting the ACT early website.
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