A security guard who accompanied Nigel Farage during this year’s local election campaign was facing a rape charge at the time and was subsequently convicted, prompting questions about the checks carried out before he was assigned to protect the Reform UK leader. Ryan Dinnage worked alongside Farage in April and May, before his conviction in June.
Dinnage was seen with Farage during public campaign appearances on at least four occasions in the spring. Those visits took place in Llandudno in Conwy County, Waterlooville in Hampshire, Worthing in West Sussex, and Downham Market in Norfolk. He had been charged in 2025 over an offence committed at the Royal Windsor horse show in 2022.
According to Thames Valley police, Dinnage entered a caravan in the early hours of 16 May 2022 and raped a woman who was asleep inside. The attack was reported to police that day, and officers arrested him the following day. Dinnage, of Croydon, was 32 when he received an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence in July.
Reform confirmed that Dinnage had provided security for Farage, saying he came through an outside contractor that had assured the party he had undergone vetting. A party spokesperson said: “As soon as we found out, we were shocked and disgusted and he ceased to be used by Reform.” The party did not answer additional questions about whether it still worked with the contractor or had taken action against it.
Labour called on Farage to explain when Reform learned that someone charged with rape had been interacting with the public while working on its behalf. A spokesperson also demanded details of measures taken to prevent a repeat. The criticism focused on how Dinnage had been given responsibilities involving proximity to both a senior political figure and members of the public while awaiting trial.
Farage regularly travels with a substantial security team and has spoken publicly about threats against him. He has repeatedly said a £5m gift from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne was intended to cover his security costs for the remainder of his life. He previously rejected government-provided protection, including a bodyguard, vehicle and trained driver, because he considered it insufficient.
The disclosure follows separate scrutiny of Conservative vetting arrangements. Reform had criticised the Conservatives for employing Jack Ross, a former election candidate who worked as a consultant in Kemi Badenoch’s office. An undercover reporter filmed Ross appearing to discuss prices for hiring contract killers and offering to arrange access to an alleged far-right paramilitary group.
The Conservatives are investigating Ross. Scottish police have also said they will review the Al Jazeera documentary containing the footage, in which he appeared to discuss potential uses for a contract killer and the deployment of far-right groups to cause street disruption.
