Alleged spy told police ‘he would harm himself’ before Maidenhead death

A former Royal Marine and Home Office immigration officer, Matthew Trickett, was found deceased in a park in Maidenhead on 19 May 2024 after being charged with assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service. The inquest revealed that Trickett had expressed to police his intention to harm himself once released from custody. He had been arrested on 1 May 2024 under the National Security Act and was later seen attempting self-harm while held in a cell on 11 May. Following this, he was placed under constant supervision but released on bail two days after the incident.

Trickett’s bail conditions were meant to be monitored by contractor Serco, which was responsible for fitting him with an electronic tag. However, Serco informed Thames Valley Police on the day he was found dead that they had failed to monitor him. Police subsequently sought to apprehend Trickett, only to discover his body in Grenfell Park after a member of the public reported the sighting. The inquest into his death at Reading Coroner’s Court is anticipated to conclude by 18 November.

The hearing included testimony from custody sergeant Del May of the Metropolitan Police. May recounted how officers observed Trickett attempting to self-harm while in custody. Trickett had told May that although he respected the police and would not harm himself while detained, he planned to do so after his release. The sergeant believed this posed a strong justification for keeping Trickett in custody. Medical professionals involved noted fluctuations in Trickett’s mood, which they linked to the interruption of testosterone treatment he had been receiving prior to his arrest; his condition improved after the treatment was resumed.

Originating from Wimborne, Dorset, Trickett joined the Royal Marines at age 20 and served in locations including the Arctic, the Mediterranean, Brunei, and Afghanistan. After 2013, he worked in security, with clientele that featured Middle Eastern royal families. His family described him as “proud of his career,” “well loved” by former colleagues, and someone who, despite sometimes being “slightly naive,” was quick to form friendships and willing to put himself in danger unhesitatingly. Two co-defendants related to the case—Chi Leung “Peter” Wai and Chung Biu “Bill” Yuen—were sentenced in June to prison terms of 10 and eight years respectively. The court found they had carried out a “shadow policing operation” on behalf of Hong Kong authorities and, by extension, the Chinese state. Wai had involved Trickett in surveillance activities targeting Hong Kong dissidents, including directing him in 2023 to arrange surveillance of Hong Kong activist Nathan Law during an Oxford Union speech. The inquest into Matthew Trickett’s death remains ongoing