Overview
- On Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, 24‑year‑old Teddy Young appeared at London’s Old Bailey charged with five offences including two counts under the National Security Act and a count of misconduct in public office.
- Prosecutors allege Young, a warfare intelligence rating with high‑level clearance, accessed and retained protected defence and intelligence material between November 2024 and May 2025 and sought to share some of it with a foreign power.
- The Crown alleges he showed interest in a website linked to Russia’s SVR, drafted a message in Russian, took steps to contact Russian actors via the dark web, and used personal email, WhatsApp, Discord and removable media to handle classified files.
- A judge remanded Young in custody, set a plea hearing for 12 March 2027, and listed a provisional multi‑week trial for October 2027, and authorities say the investigation was managed with the MOD and is not linked to the RAF Fairford inquiry.
- The charges also include two counts under RIPA for failing to disclose a SanDisk USB and an SD card to investigators and the case will help clarify how the National Security Act and RIPA apply to alleged insider leaks and use of personal devices.