Serving member of armed forces, 36, is charged with breaking Official Secrets Act after Met counter-terror investigation
A man has been charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act following an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
Thomas Newsome, 36, a serving member of the armed forces, was arrested earlier this week and is now due to appear at court, Scotland Yard said.
Newsome was initially arrested and detained under PACE on Tuesday April 18, a warrant of further detention was obtained from Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 20, allowing police to detain him until April 22.
He was subsequently charged late on Friday April 21 with offences contrary to section 2 and section 8 of the Official Secrets Act, 1989.
He has been remanded in police custody and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday April 22.
Thomas Newsome, 36, a serving member of the armed forces, has been charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act, Scotland Yard said
Section 2 makes it an offence for a Crown servant or government contractor to make an unauthorised disclosure of information relating to defence if it damages the capability of the armed forces to carry out their tasks.
Section 8 creates offences relating to actions that increase the danger of disclosure.
Under Section 8(1) it is an offence for a Crown servant to retain information protected by the Act contrary to their official duty.
Previously a security guard who sent classified documents to Russia and snooped around colleagues’ desks at the British embassy in Berlin was charged under the Official Secret’s Act
David Smith, 58, admitted sending classified documents to the Russian Embassy anonymously in May and November 2020.
Paisley-born Smith began collecting secret material over four years and was caught following an undercover sting in August 2021.
The former RAF serviceman pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act and was sentenced to 13 years and two months in jail.
