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Royal Navy sailor accused of spying and using dark web to try to make contact with Russia

Royal Navy sailor accused of spying and using dark web to try to make contact with Russia

Forcesnews • October 8, 2026

A Royal Navy sailor has been remanded in custody after appearing in court accused of plotting to leak classified information to Russia.

Able Seaman Teddy Young, 24, allegedly abused his security clearance to access defence and intelligence data after being deployed on a Navy vessel.

He supposedly drafted a message in Russian containing classified information and had allegedly taken steps to make direct with the Russian authorities.

AB Young appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where the Crown Prosecution Service provided a written summary of the allegations, saying he was a Royal Navy warfare intelligence rating with high level security clearance and intelligence-system access.

The sailor, who joined the Royal Navy in April 2024, allegedly committed the offences on his first deployment, which began on 4 November that year.

He is accused of using the dark web to try to make with Russian authorities, drafting a message which "sought to make with a potential threat actor".

AB Young is also accused of breaking Navy rules by copying information to a private email account.

He was arrested by counter-terror police at his in Bedfordshire on Tuesday, having previously been arrested in Hampshire last year.

AB Young was not asked to enter any pleas during the four-minute court hearing.

District Judge Annabel Pilling told him: "As you know, the matters that you have been charged with are too serious to be dealt with at this court and need to be dealt with at a crown court."

Judge Pilling sent the case to the Old Bailey, where AB Young is due to appear on 16 October.

When announcing the charge, police stressed there was no link between this investigation and the ongoing RAF Fairford probe.

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 further at this stage."

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