MOD settles claim with former SBS operative Ant Middleton over breach of contract

The Ministry of Defence has settled a High Court claim against former SBS operative Ant Middleton after it sued him for allegedly sharing confidential details of his time in the special forces. 

The MOD brought legal action last October against the former Channel 4 SAS: Who Dares Wins presenter over an alleged breach of contract linked to an episode of the Mike Drop podcast, published on YouTube in July, titled Exposing the Quiet Split Between UK and US Forces.

After a further hearing scheduled for earlier this month did not take place, an MOD spokesperson confirmed the claim had been settled.

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A statement said: "We can confirm that legal proceedings have now concluded with a settlement being reached."

It is understood that Mr Middleton has recommitted to complying with the terms of the agreement as part of the settlement.

Previous hearing 

Barristers for the MOD told a hearing last November that Mr Middleton had signed a confidentiality agreement when he joined the special forces. The agreement prohibits the disclosure of any operational details – whether accurate or not – without prior written approval from the MOD.

This code, often referred to as omertà, remains in place for life. 

The podcast episode in question, which lasted almost four hours and had received more than 147,000 views, included segment titles such as "Final stages of SAS selection" and "Red tape in Afghanistan and the breaking point".

Oliver Sanders KC, for the MOD, said that Mr Middleton had not sought or been given authorisation to disclose information on the Mike Drop podcast episode.

The court heard that the MOD would neither confirm nor deny whether the statements made by Mr Middleton in the podcast were accurate, but said they were covered by the contract regardless.

Mr Middleton, who represented himself at the hearing, told the court that his military service included tours of Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, and that he now lives in the United Arab Emirates.

He denied breaching the agreement and said the legal action was "sudden, severe and disproportionate".

He continued that disclosing information that could endanger soldiers was "against everything I have ever known or stood for" and that the information he cited in the podcast was "easily obtained by internet search".

He also said: "I believe the suggestion that I have revealed military secrets is truly shocking and unfounded."

Mr Middleton added that some of the information cited came from his time in the Royal Marines, which is not covered by the confidentiality contract.