An armed forces member was charged on 21 April with sharing “highly sensitive” information, which, if leaked, would pose a “real and immediate threat to Britons outside the UK” and “facilitate the targeting of personnel”.

Thomas Newsome, 36, who is a serving member of the UK’s Armed Forces, was initially arrested and detained by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command under PACE on Tuesday 18 April.

He was deployed overseas until 17 April, when he is alleged to have made a “damaging disclosure of information relating to defence and which was in his possession by virtue of his position”.

He was subsequently charged late on Friday 21 April with offences contrary to section 2 and section 8 of the Official Secrets Act, 1989.

He was also charged with failing to take care of documents or “to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of those documents as a person in his position may reasonably be expected to take”.

Newsome appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday, 22 April, speaking only to confirm his name and date of birth.

His address – usually stated by defendants – was withheld on national security grounds, as were the names of his lawyers.

Prosecutor Brigid Fitzpatrick said the document – which Newsome allegedly had both digital and hard copies of – contained “highly sensitive military information”.

If leaked, it would pose a “real and immediate threat to the lives of British citizens outside the UK” and “facilitate the targeting of personnel”, Ms Fitzpatrick said.

Newsome is also accused of possessing separate secret information on a USB stick.

District Judge Michael Snow rejected a bail application and said Newsome would next appear at the court on 28 April.

(Source: Sky News)

(Image: Metropolitan Police)