Royal Navy service member charged with spying

A serving member of the Royal Navy has been charged with spying, police said.

Teddy Young, 24, will appear in court on Thursday, accused of obtaining protected information which could benefit an unnamed foreign power, the Metropolitan Police said.

Young was arrested by counter-terror police at his home in Bedfordshire on Tuesday, having previously been arrested in Hampshire last year.

He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court facing charges that between November 2024 and May 2025 he “engaged in conduct in preparation for committing an offence of disclosing protected information, contrary to section 18 of the National Security Act 2023”.

Between the same dates, it is also alleged he “obtained, copied, recorded or retained protected information, intending the conduct to benefit a foreign power, knowing or having regard to other matters known to him ought reasonably to know was prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom, contrary to section 1 of the National Security Act 2023″.

Police stressed there was no link between this investigation and the ongoing RAF Fairford probe.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “These are very serious charges against a serving member of the armed forces. We have worked extremely closely with relevant operational colleagues within the Ministry of Defence as our investigation has progressed to ensure appropriate measures could be taken to mitigate any potential risks linked to this matter.”

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “A member of the Royal Navy has been charged with National Security Act (NSA) offences following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London. As legal proceedings are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”