An alleged Russian spy from Great Yarmouth appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on Friday.

Orlin Roussev, 45, was arrested at his address in Princes Road in February for offences contrary to the Official Secrets Act.

Roussev and four other Bulgarian nationals allegedly belonged to a “network” conducting surveillance on behalf of the Russian state while living in England.

They are charged with plotting to gather information that would be useful to an enemy “for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state” between August 30, 2020 and February 8, 2023.

The group appeared in front of Mr Justice Jeremy Baker on Friday and were represented by barristers, only speaking to confirm their names and dates of birth. 

The women were at Bronzefield jail and the male defendants appeared by video link from Belmarsh, Frankland and Manchester prisons.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC estimated that any trial in 2024 would take about six weeks but barristers for the defence suggested it could take longer.

Mr Justice Baker set a further hearing at the Old Bailey on November 10 and remanded the defendants into custody.