Novichok poison survivor Charlie Rowley, whose life was ruined by Russian secret agents, last night urged big-hearted Brits to take in Ukrainians fleeing the war.
But the Government’s dramatic offer of a £350-a-month reward did not stop Charlie savaging ministers for their reluctance to offer visas on the grounds the desperate refugees could be Russian spies.
Charlie, 48, whose girlfriend Dawn Sturgess died in the 2018 nerve agent attack in Salisbury, Wilts, was sickened after Home Secretary Priti Patel and immigration minister Kevin Foster wheeled out the excuse this week.
He told the Sunday People : “I have more reason than most to dislike Russian spies.
“I still live with the fear that they could come back for me at any time. I know they weren’t targeting me but that is how it has left me feeling.
“But Britain can’t turn a blind eye to desperate people who have had to flee Russian bombs – they are just like you and me.”
Minister Michael Gove announced the £350-a-month offer to Brits who agree to take in Ukrainian refugees with no family connections in the UK.
Charlie said: “I really urge any readers who can to join the scheme – as a nation we should try and help these people as much as we can.”
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But Charlie, who has had strokes, meningitis and flashbacks from Novichok, added: “It’s plain wrong they use the Salisbury attack as an excuse to not grant more visas.”
Charlie confessed that watching Russia ’s bombing of civilian targets has added to his anxiety, saying: “I too know what it’s like to be collateral damage in a Russian attack. They don’t care about innocent people’s lives.”
His ordeal began after Russian double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped close to death on a park bench in Salisbury, Wilts, four years ago.
Mystery surrounded their illness – which they survived – until Charlie found a bottle of counterfeit Nina Ricci perfume in a charity shop bin around four months later and gave it to his partner Dawn.
Both were scrambled to hospital and while Charlie regained consciousness and was released ten days later, Dawn, 44, died on July 8, 2018.
It is believed that when she sprayed the bottle she was exposed to 10 times the amount of nerve agent that spies squirted on ex-KGB colonel Sergei’s front door.
Alleged Russian agents Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov have been charged with attempted murder of the Skripals and that of Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, poisoned after going to their home.
The pair, allegedly members of Russia’s GRU military intelligence, slipped out of the UK by posing as tourists. Charlie, who has moved to another town with his 13-year-old terrier Gypsy, said: “That summer has left a huge mark on my life. The spies didn’t want to take the poison back with them and dispose of it sensibly.
“They just disposed of it. Not caring who it could affect.
“It’s hard to get away from the memories of what happened. It haunts me to this day. I’ve been back to the exact spot where I found the bottle. I find it upsetting just thinking about it.
“On a day-to-day basis I worry about Russian spies. I worry they may see something I’ve said and come back.”
Next week a public inquiry into Dawn’s death starts and Charlie hopes it will finally shed more light on exactly what happened.
He said: “It just hope something is resolved and the truth comes out. The hardest thing is how come I was saved and Dawn wasn’t? I have to carry a lot of guilt that she wouldn’t have been poisoned if I hadn’t given it to her.
“I think about Dawn every day, I still speak to her family. I have pictures of Dawn on the wall of my home. The loss never leaves you.”
Charlie, who still has problems with his eyesight, breathing, balance and circulation because of the poison, has been moved to tears by footage of the Russian onslaught on Ukraine.
He said: “Watching the scenes of bombings including the Mariupol maternity hospital left me very upset. They were collateral damage, in a way like me, where they showed no regard for innocent people caught up in a situation.
“The Russians don’t care who they drag into their conflict. They are so ruthless.”
Over two million Ukrainian refugees have fled the war, with Britain saying it will take 200,000.
On Tuesday, immigration minister Kevin Foster blamed the threat of a Salisbury-style attack for issuing just 500 UK visas to Ukrainians in four days.
Mr Foster told MPs: “Sadly, we are already seeing people presenting at Calais with false documents claiming to be Ukrainian. With incidents like Salisbury still in our minds, the Government will not take chances with the security of this country and our people.”
SNP MP Stuart McDonald hit back: “Don’t quote Salisbury at us. That has absolutely nothing to do with this.”
But on Thursday, when Home Secretary Priti Patel announced an online visa service for Ukrainians with passports, she insisted she had to protect Britain and said: “What happened in Salisbury showed what Putin is willing to do on our soil.” Furious Charlie responded: “My heart goes out to all of the Ukrainians. Is there any proof that Russians are sneaking through the border?
“The Ukrainian people need our help. We need to open our doors.
“There’s desperate women and children out there. Britain shouldn’t turn its back on them.
“This is a humanitarian crisis. Other countries are opening their doors.
“The world cannot turn its back and Britain has always historically been at the forefront of helping others.”
