Ex-Marine accused of spying for Hong Kong discovered useless in park as cops examine

A former Royal Marine accused of assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service has died in “unexplained circumstances”, police have revealed.

Matthew Trickett, 37, an immigration enforcement officer and private investigator was also accused of foreign interference and had appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court with two other people last week.

Thames Valley Police said Trickett was found dead in Grenfell Park, Maidenhead, at around 5.15pm on Sunday (May 20) after a report from a member of the public.

An investigation has now been launched into his death, which is being treated as unexplained.

A short statement from the family regarding their “much-loved” son was also released, PA reports.

The family statement said: “We are mourning the loss of a much-loved son, brother and family member. We would be grateful if the press would respect our privacy at this difficult time and refrain from intruding on our grief.”

Trickett’s solicitor Julian Hayes, senior partner at Berris Law, said: “It has sadly been confirmed by Thames Valley Police that the body found in Grenfell Park, Maidenhead, on Sunday was that of our client Matthew Trickett.

“We are naturally shocked at this news and supporting his family as best we can. The death is currently being treated as unexplained by the police and further investigations are still ongoing.”

Thames Valley Police said that a post-mortem will be conducted in due course.

They added: “We are asking anyone with information to come forward particularly anyone who was in Grenfell Park on Sunday afternoon prior to 5.15pm. If you have information then please call 101 quoting reference 43240233265.”

Trickett, from Maidenhead, was formerly employed by the UK Border Force at London Heathrow Airport, before joining Home Office Immigration Enforcement on February 21 in 2024.

He was also the director of MTR Consultancy, a security firm formed in April 2021.

Trickett was charged along with Chi Leung Wai, 38, from Staines, Surrey, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, from Hackney, east London.

They were charged under the National Security Act after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.

The charges relate to the period between December 20 in 2023 and May 2 in 2024.

Yuen, Wai and Trickett allegedly undertook information gathering, surveillance and acts of deception that were likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service.

It is also alleged that on May 1 in 2024, they forced entry into a UK residential address, being reckless as to whether the prohibited conduct, or course of conduct of which it forms part, would have an interference effect.

They had all been bailed and were due to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday (May 24).

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