Soldier arrested on Russian spy charges

Peter Hill, 23, was detained by police last Wednesday in an undercover sting operation.

He is said to have handed sensitive military information to a detective posing as a Russian agent during a late-night rendezvous.

Scroll down for more...

Hill is thought to have been under surveillance for several weeks before the alleged exchange in Leeds.

The bailiff from Skipton, North Yorkshire, was arrested under the Official Secrets Act.

He was later charged under the Explosive Substances Act following the discovery of suspicious material in searches of his home and business addresses.

Hill, a Keele University graduate who served with the Royal Armoured Corps for three years, is due to appear before Leeds Magistrates today.

He will continue to be questioned by officers from Scotland Yard's Special Branch over the alleged breach of section one of the Official Secrets Act.

Convictions carry a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

Last week, Jonathan Evans, the head of MI5, warned that Russia was a major espionage threat.

In a speech to newspaper editors, he said: "There has been no decrease in the numbers of Russian intelligence officers conducting covert activity in the UK, despite the Cold War ending."

A document circulated to British military bases three weeks ago states: "It is all too easy to overlook the threat from espionage that this country faces.

"It is believed there are 30 intelligence officers working under cover in the Russian embassy, consulate and trade delegation."