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A former MI6 agent appeared in court today charged with trying to sell top-secret files.
Daniel Houghton, 25, was arrested at a London hotel on Monday. He is alleged to have handed over memory cards and a hard drive containing information, City of Westminster magistrates were told.
Piers Arnold, prosecuting, told the court that Houghton, from Finsbury Park, began working for the security service in September 2007. Houghton, who is unmarried, holds joint British and Dutch nationality. The court heard the files in Houghton's possession were of the highest security classified rating.
Houghton was charged with two counts that he breached the Official Secrets Act in that he stole property belonging to the British security service and that he disclosed information relating to security or intelligence.
Houghton spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the 20-minute hearing. He nodded at family members in the public gallery. Houghton worked for MI6 between September 2007 and May 2009, starting work for the agency when he was just 22.
During that time it is alleged he stole files from domestic security agency MI5 which detailed UK agents' intelligence gathering techniques.
Solicitor Wayne Cleaver, who represented Houghton, made no application for bail. Houghton was remanded in custody to appear at the same court next week.
