Royal Navy service member charged with spying for Russia

A serving member of the Royal Navy has appeared in court charged with spying for Russia.

Teddy Young, 24, was accused of obtaining protected information that could benefit an unnamed foreign power. He was arrested at his home in Bedfordshire on Tuesday after an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London (CTPL).

He has now been charged with a number of offences under the National Security Act, the Metropolitan police said on Thursday.

Young, a naval intelligence rating, is alleged to have abused high-level security clearance to access secret defence and intelligence data after being deployed on a navy vessel.

He is accused of drafting a message in Russian containing classified information and had allegedly taken steps to make direct contact with the Russian authorities.

Young was first arrested in May last year. At that point he was suspended and relieved of his duties, and he was on gardening leave until his latest arrest.

Young appeared at Westminster magistrates court wearing a grey navy tracksuit, and he spoke only to confirm his name.

There was an application for bail, and the district judge Annabelle Pilling told Young: “On the basis of the information I have already read, there are substantial grounds to believe that if granted bail you would not come back to court and that you would make efforts to avoid further court appearances and would commit further offences.”

Young was remanded in custody to appear before a specialist judge at the Old Bailey on 16 October.

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charges on Wednesday. They allege that between 26 November 2024 and 21 May 2025 Young engaged in conduct in preparation for committing an offence of disclosing protected information.

It is also alleged that in the same period he obtained, copied, recorded or retained protected information, intending the conduct to benefit a foreign power.

Cmdr Helen Flanagan, the head of CTPL, said in a statement issued before the court appearance: “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.”

The arrest and charges are not connected to the recent investigation into an incident at RAF Fairford.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “A member of the Royal Navy has been charged with National Security Act offences following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London. As legal proceedings are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”