This is a court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Royal Navy sailor Teddy Young appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London. (AP Photo)
He was remanded in custody by District Judge Annabel Pilling and is due to appear at the Old Bailey, the UK’s Central Criminal Court, on October 16. Police said the allegations against Young are not connected to the recent incident at RAF Fairford, where seven men were arrested and later released on bail following reports of suspicious activity near the airbase.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the charges were “very serious” as they involved a serving member of the armed forces. She said police had worked closely with the Ministry of Defence during the investigation to mitigate any potential risks. He is accused of retaining protected UK defence and intelligence material and preparing to disclose it with the intention of benefiting a foreign power.
Able Seaman Teddy Young, a warfare intelligence specialist, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. Young was arrested at his home in Bedfordshire on Tuesday by counter-terrorism police.