The alleged Bulgarian spy who was arrested in Great Yarmouth had posed as a journalist to surveil his targets, it has been alleged.
Orlin Roussev, 45, was arrested in February by the town's seafront concerning an Official Secrets Act investigation.
Roussev and two other Bulgarians - Bizer Dzhambazov and Katrin Ivanova - have been charged with possession of false identity documents with improper intention.
It is claimed the trio was spying for Russia.
The Times reported that the trio has been accused of posing as journalists from American television companies after Scotland Yard found forged press cards and branded clothing from the Discovery and National Geographic channels.
It is reported the forgery operation was aimed to surveil targets in London, Germany and Montenegro and was allegedly run by Roussev, 45.
Investigators allegedly found equipment to produce false documents in his room.
It is also said Roussev reportedly has a history of business dealings in Russia.
He moved to the UK in 2009 and worked in a technical role in the telecoms sector, according to his Linkedin profile.
READ MORE: Suspected spy arrested in Great Yarmouth
The page also claims that he once advised the Bulgarian ministry of energy.
Neighbours said a tent was erected by police outside The Haydee guest house building where Roussev was staying during his arrest in February.
Groups of masked men dressed in black were seen searching the address for nearly two days.
Moira Scott, who is the bar manager at the nearby Prom Hotel, said she could recall security personnel descending on the hotel in February.
She said: “There was a big scenes of crime tent outside the door of The Haydee and there were a load of plain police vans with blacked out windows.
“My first reaction was that someone had been murdered. There was a lot of men dressed in black clothes with their faces covered who were coming and going.
“They had balaclavas on as if they didn’t want anyone to recognise them which I thought was a bit weird. I couldn’t see their faces."
Dzhambazov, 41, and Ivanova, 31, are from Harrow, northwest London.
All three have been charged with possession of false identity documents with improper intention.
They are due to appear before the Old Bailey at a date to be fixed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here