Government intelligence worker will not plea to Official Secrets Act charges until June

A former government contractor who worked in the British intelligence community will not enter a plea until June at the earliest.

Juan Joseph, 42, from Sutton, south London, is accused of making "damaging" disclosures under the Official Secrets Act.

Today, February 14 2025, he appeared before Mrs Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb at the Old Bailey via a digital link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs, where he is remanded in custody.

Bearded and dressed in a grey prison sweatshirt, he took notes during the brief hearing.

He was arrested after an investigation carried out by the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit and faces two charges under the Official Secrets Act as a "crown servant" relating to his former role as a "government contractor".

He is accused of making a "damaging disclosure relating to security or intelligence" on 19 November last year and 13 January this year.

Westminster Magistrates' Court previously heard that he worked within the UK intelligence community and on parts of its estate.

The specific organisation he worked for has not been disclosed.

Prosecutors said the disclosures are said to be "damaging to the work of the organisation within the UK intelligence community that the defendant worked in".

According to information at Companies House Joseph has previously been a director of four IT consultancy companies and a property investment firm all of which have since been dissolved.

The case was earlier adjourned as the CPS required the consent of the Attorney General, Lord Hermer KC, to continue the prosecution, which has since been granted.

A plea hearing was fixed for June this year.