Royal Navy sailor charged with spying – police rule out link with Fairford arrests

A Royal Navy sailor is due to appear in court charged with spying – obtaining protected information which could benefit a foreign power.

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

However, the Metropolitan 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."

Young is appearing 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 the serving sailor is also said to have 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.