Royal Navy sailor faces new charges over alleged Russia secrets plot

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 13:58 · Archive

A Royal Navy intelligence rating accused of plotting to leak classified information to Russia has appeared at court facing fresh charges.

Teddy Young, 24, appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink from Belmarsh prison to face three new charges. He is alleged to have accessed and obtained secret information between November 26, 2024, and May 21, 2025, and made preparations to leak some or all of it to a foreign power. Young is also accused of misconduct in a public office between February 15, 2024, and March 25, 2025.

As a Royal Navy warfare intelligence rating, Young had high-level security clearance and access to intelligence systems. The prosecution told the court he abused this clearance by transferring secret material to personal devices including email, WhatsApp and Discord. He is also alleged to have shown interest in a website set up by Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, and to have drafted a message in Russian containing classified information.

Young joined the Navy in April 2024 and allegedly began offending on his first deployment from November 4, 2024. He was first arrested on May 21, 2025, and rearrested on October 6. He was remanded into custody.

How it is being reported

• Royal Navy sailor accused of plotting to leak secrets to Russia faces three new chargesA Royal Navy sailor accused of plotting to leak classified information to Russia has appeared at the Old Bailey, facing three further offences. Teddy Young, 24, is alleged to have accessed and obtained secret information. He is also accused of making preparations to leak some or all of that information to a third party between November 26, 2024, and May 21, 2025. The prosecution told the court that Mr Young was a serving member of the Royal Navy “working in the intelligence branch”, which gave him a “higher level of security clearance”. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The Old Bailey was…GB News · 23 Oct, 13:38
• Royal Navy sailor faces new charges after alleged classified information breachTeddy Young, 24, was remanded into custody.Evening Standard · 23 Oct, 12:53
• New charges for Royal Navy sailor accused of plotting to leak secrets to RussiaA junior Royal Navy serviceman is facing additional charges after being accused of plotting to leak classified information to Russia.Sky News · 23 Oct, 09:59

In this story: Teddy Young · Royal Navy · Old Bailey · Russia · Belmarsh prison · Clapham · Bedford

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