Ukrainian rent boy trial
 Alleged arsonists Petro Pochynok, Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc | |
| Date | 27 April 2026 - Present |
|---|---|
The Ukrainian rent boy trial began on 27 April 2026 when Petro Pochynok (T20257018), Roman Lavrynovych (T20257020) and Stanislav Carpiucin (T20257021) appeared in Court 2 at the Old Bailey in London.[1]
Reporting from the Old Bailey, Jonathan Wong posted on X:
"There are no reporting restrictions on this case.
"Currently still on a break, held up by jury preparation. They are conducting a questionnaire to ensure no conflicts of interest.
"Nothing substantive to report."[2]
Contents
Background
Roman Lavrynovych is a 21-year-old Ukrainian national who was living in the United Kingdom at the time of his arrest. Petro Pochynok is a 35-year-old Ukrainian national who was also residing in the UK. A third defendant, Stanislav Carpiuc, is a Romanian national who faces the same charges alongside the two Ukrainians.
All three men had previously appeared before the Old Bailey where they entered not guilty pleas to the charge of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, and were remanded in custody at HMP Belmarsh, London’s Category A high-security prison, where they have been held while awaiting trial.
Arson attacks
Over five days in May 2025, a series of arson attacks were carried out against properties in north London that had links to Sir Keir Starmer. Three separate incidents took place in quick succession:
- On 8 May 2025, a Toyota RAV4 that had previously been owned by Sir Keir Starmer was set on fire in Kentish Town, north London.
- On 11 May 2025, the front door of a converted flat in Islington — a property linked to the Prime Minister — was set alight.
- Just one day later, on 12 May 2025, a house in Kentish Town where Starmer had lived before moving into Downing Street was targeted in a third arson attack.
No injuries were reported in any of the three incidents. However, the targeting of properties connected to the head of government was treated by police as a matter of the utmost seriousness, and the defendants were placed in HMP Belmarsh — a prison reserved for those deemed a significant risk to national security or public safety.
Single charge
All three defendants face a single charge of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. This is a serious offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 and can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction. It is important to note that the case is not being treated as a terrorism matter, distinguishing it from other high-profile cases involving inmates at Belmarsh.
Lavrynovych and Pochynok have been appearing via video link from HMP Belmarsh during preliminary court hearings. Remand in a Category A prison such as Belmarsh prior to trial is unusual for non-terrorism charges and reflects the assessed level of risk the defendants are considered to pose, as well as the high-profile nature of the alleged targets.
The defendants have maintained their not guilty pleas throughout all court proceedings so far.[3]
MSM silence
Many commentators, including George Galloway[4] and Paul Knaggs, are shocked that the mainstream media are not covering this trial:
"The question is this: why, on the morning that Britain’s most politically charged criminal trial of the year opens at the Old Bailey, are the digital front pages of the BBC, the Daily Mail, and even the supposedly insurgent GB News so conspicuously devoid of the names Roman Lavrynovych, Petro Pochynok, and Stanislav Carpiuc?"[5]
Crispin Flintoff reporting
In an email at 21:00hrs Crispin Flintoff reported:
"Today I was at the Old Bailey for the first day of the trial of three men accused of arson and endangering life in attacks involving former properties of Keir Starmer.
"All three men have been held in Belmarsh Prison since May last year.
"I went to court not knowing whether I would be allowed to witness the proceedings at all. I didn’t know if there would be space, whether access would be restricted, or whether parts of the case might be heard in camera.
"But I did get in. I was able to see the first day for myself.
"That changes things.
"Now that it is clear the trial can be witnessed and reported, I believe it is vital that someone is there each day to document what happens — especially as there appears to be nothing in the mainstream media about it.
"The three defendants were all present in court. Most of the day was spent swearing in the jury, but the judge indicated that the trial is expected to last three to four weeks.
"So far, neither the defence nor the prosecution has outlined a motive, and the words 'Keir Starmer' have not yet been uttered in court. But this is plainly a significant case, and there are no reporting restrictions in place.
"I may not be able to attend every day myself because of family commitments. But I want to make sure someone is there to report on each day of the trial."
Day 2
The second day of this remarkable trial, sitting before Mr Justice Garnham, was given over to the mechanics of detection. How the police found what they found. What the defendants said when they were asked to explain it. And, most significantly, what one of those defendants eventually admitted when the explanations began to run out.
The prosecution has now completed two full days of evidence. The jury has heard phone location data, CCTV footage, encrypted Telegram messages, a filmed attack, a return to the scene to photograph the damage, DNA evidence, an airport interception, and a defendant’s own admission that someone directed him to act.[6]
References
- ↑ "Central Criminal Court List 27 April 2026"
- ↑ "Nothing substantive to report"
- ↑ "The Starmer Arson Case Explained"
- ↑ "3 Ukrainian Rent Boys, a Firebomb & Starmer’s Back Door: The Old Bailey Bombshell"
- ↑ "The Silence at the Old Bailey: Why is the Starmer Arson Trial Being Buried?"
- ↑ "STARMER ARSON TRIAL, DAY TWO: DNA on Trainers, Dawn Arrest and 'El Money'”
