Immigration Officer Linked to Hong Kong Spy Case Found Dead
Thames Valley Police have ruled out suspicious circumstances in the death of Matthew Trickett, the 37-year-old immigration officer accused of spying for Hong Kong’s intelligence service.
Ex-Royal Marine Found Dead in Maidenhead Park
Trickett, a former Royal Marine and private investigator, was discovered dead in Grenfell Park, Maidenhead, on Sunday afternoon after a public tip-off. A Home Office post-mortem completed on Wednesday confirmed that his death is not being treated as suspicious.
A police spokesperson confirmed specialist officers are supporting Trickett’s grieving family during this difficult time.
Spy Allegations and Court Drama
Trickett joined the Home Office immigration enforcement team in February 2021 after a stint with UK Border Force at Heathrow. He also ran MTR Consultancy, a security firm he founded that same year.
Last week, he appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court alongside two others — Chi (Peter) Leung Wai and Chung Biu Yuen — charged with assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service and foreign interference.
Bail Granted Despite Suicide Attempt After Charges
Though prosecutors urged the court to keep Trickett in custody for his own welfare, he was granted bail. Prosecutor Kashif Malik revealed Trickett had attempted to take his own life post-charge.
Trickett was found dead on 19 May, just four days after being released on bail. His family issued a heartfelt statement: “We are mourning the loss of a much-loved son, brother, and family member,” and asked for privacy during their time of grief.
Case Dropped and Police Investigation Underway
Following his death, prosecutor Alistair Richardson confirmed the case against Trickett will be formally discontinued. He also requested the revocation of Trickett’s electronic tag.
The police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to bail conditions requiring Trickett to report regularly to a police station. The IOPC has passed the matter back to Thames Valley Police’s professional standards department for investigation.
