The man accused of blowing up a newly-installed ULEZ camera missed his first court hearing after suffering a suspected stroke.
Kevin Rees, 62, put people and property in danger with an attack with an improvised explosive device on the camera in Willersley Avenue, Sidcup, on December 6 last year, it is said.
He is accused of causing damage to a nearby home and vehicles with debris from the explosion.
At Westminster magistrates court on Monday, Rees, of Harcourt Avenue in Sidcup, was due to appear in the dock to face criminal charges for the first time.
But his barrister, Simon Ray, said solicitors from law firm Kingsley Napley, who are representing the defendant, sent a letter to the court to explain his absence.
“I had a conference with Mr Rees on Friday with the intention he would be here this morning”, he told the court.
“But as set out in the letter, he suffered stroke-like symptoms over the weekend.
“It is a repeated occurrence, and his health is a real concern.”
Judge Nina Tempia agree to send the case to the crown court with Mr Ray representing the defendant in court in his absence.
ULEZ expansion to cover Greater London was approved by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan last year, sparking a wave of protests and bouts of criminal damage aimed at cameras.
Rees’ case is due to be listed at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on November 22, and no pleas were indicated on Monday.
“This relates to an explosion on a ULEZ camera installed in Willersley Avenue in Sidcup, a residential street”, said prosecutor Peter Ratliff.
“The explosion took place at around 6.50pm on December 6 last year.
“In short, the prosecution’s case is it is this defendant who set about causing the explosion.
“The power of the explosion was such that significant damage was caused and serious injury was only averted by good fortune.”
Rees has been charged with an alleged offence under the Explosive Substances Act 1883, and his case is due to be dealt with under the court protocol for terrorism offences.
He is also accused of three charges of weapons possessions, over stun guns allegedly found by police on December 18 last year.
The judge freed Rees on bail until the next court hearing, with conditions that he continues to live at his home address and does not engage in any ULEZ related protests.
