In a surprising turn of events, a retired electrical appliance engineer has found himself at the centre of a court case involving the explosion of an ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) camera in south-east London. Kevin Rees, a 63-year-old defendant, has been accused of causing the blast that occurred on Willersley Avenue in Sidcup on 6 December 2023.
The incident, which was captured on CCTV footage released by the Metropolitan Police, has sparked a heated legal battle. Rees, who is on trial at Woolwich Crown Court, has adamantly denied any involvement in the alleged crime, claiming he has no recollection of his whereabouts at the time of the explosion.
Prosecutors have presented evidence that Rees was seen on CCTV footage leaving his home in Harcourt Avenue that evening, carrying a “bag of tools,” before returning with the bag empty. However, the defendant has maintained that the bag contained tools for a job at a friend’s house, though he has refused to identify the individual.
Furthermore, the court heard that Rees had told counter-terrorism police following his arrest on 18 December that he had been at a friend’s house on the evening of the incident. Yet, CCTV footage showed that Rees had left his friend’s home address in the mid-afternoon and did not return that evening.
Rees has also been questioned about screenshots he allegedly took shortly after returning home, which showed comments on a local Facebook group about the explosion and the Ulez camera being “blown up” and “shot at someone’s house and porch.” The defendant claimed that these were simply routine checks of his phone for notifications, messages, and local news updates.
Despite the prosecution’s efforts to build a case against Rees, the defendant has steadfastly denied all charges, and the trial continues. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly have significant implications, not only for Rees but also for the broader issue of Ulez camera security and the potential threats they face.
