Armed Forces member denies breaching Official Secrets Act

A serving member of the Armed Forces has denied breaching the Official Secrets Act by sharing "highly sensitive" military information.

Thomas Newsome, 36, appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday facing two charges under the act after prosecutors obtained the consent of Attorney General Victoria Prentis.

He spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and indicated a not guilty plea to one of the charges, which alleges Newsome made a "damaging disclosure" on 17 April "relating to defence".

Newsome, who returned to the UK from overseas deployment on that day, is alleged to have shared a 10-page document containing "highly sensitive military information".

Prosecutor Brigid Fitzpatrick said: "Release of the information poses a real and immediate threat to the lives of British citizens based outside the UK.

"If it were to fall into the possession of a hostile adversary it would facilitate the targeting of serving military personnel on current international deployment."

Newsome, wearing a grey T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, was not asked to enter a plea to a separate charge of failing to take care of documents or "to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of those documents as a person in his position may reasonably be expected to take" on 18 April.

The second count relates to a USB stick also said to have contained "highly sensitive material".

Newsome, represented by George Heimler, was remanded in custody by Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram ahead of his next appearance in front of Mr Justice Baker at the Old Bailey on 19 May.