The former Royal Marine charged with betraying his country by spying for Hong Kong fought the Taliban in Afghanistan and Somali pirates in the Red Sea before getting a job working as an immigration enforcement investigator for the Home Office.
Matthew Trickett, 37, is accused of carrying out surveillance and hostile reconnaissance on pro-democracy activists in the UK for the Hong Kong intelligence service.
He is accused of spying along with dual Chinese and British citizens, Chi Leung Wai and Chung Bui Yuen.
Born in Poole, Dorset, in 1987, Trickett enlisted into the Royal Marines aged 19, served for seven years, rising to the position of ‘detachment commander’.
Since leaving the military, he has set up his own security company, working as a bodyguard for engineers, foreign dignitaries and corporate organisations as well as wealthy families.
Trickett speaks Spanish and is believed to have worked overseas, although he now lives in Maidenhead, Berkshire.
Matthew Trickett, 37, (pictured) is accused of carrying out surveillance and hostile reconnaissance on pro-democracy activists in the UK for the Hong Kong intelligence service
Matthew Trickett (pictured) covers his face as he leaves Westminster Magistrates’ Court, central London, where three men appeared charged under the National Security Act of assisting a foreign intelligence service in Hong Kong
Mr Trickett covers his face as he leaves Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London (pictured)
Less is known about the other two spy suspects, Chi Leung Wai and Chung Bui Yuen, who both have dual British and Chinese nationality.
Yuen, 63, is a retired Hong Kong police officer who now works as a trade official for the former British colony.
He retired after 37 years of service, aged 55, where he reached the rank of Police Superintendent.
The married father, who is known as Bill, lives in a lavish £700,000 apartment in a fashionable part of east London.
His son and daughter both attended British universities and share a passion for designer clothes.
Yuen and his wife have been described as ‘polite’ and ‘model neighbours’ by other residents.
Wai, 38, works at Heathrow Airport for the UK Border Force and volunteers as a special constable for the City of London.
He started up his own security company, D5 Security Consultancy.
Court sketch of the three defendants appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and, inset, a security van leaves the west London courthouse
Chung Biu Yuen pictured leaving court yesterday (left) and pictured on a motorcycle in 2002 (right)
Chi Leung Wai pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates’ Court (left) yesterday
The immigration officer, who is known as Peter, lives in modest two-bedroom terraced house in the village of Stanwell Moor, close to Heathrow Airport.
The three men are accused of carrying out surveillance and hostile reconnaissance on pro-democracy activists in the UK for the Hong Kong intelligence service.
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