Official Secrets Act breach case: Swansea man on trial
- Published
The trial is taking place at the Old Bailey in London
A jury has been sworn in in the trial of a former defence worker accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act.
Simon Finch, 50, from Swansea, is charged with recording and disclosing secret defence information on or before 28 October 2018.
He is also accused of failing to give the authorities access codes to three electronic devices between 17 September and 2 October last year.
Mr Finch denies all charges and the trial at the Old Bailey continues.
Judge Mrs Justice Whipple told jurors the defendant had worked in a variety of roles in the defence industry - with the Ministry of Defence and two private companies, BAE Systems and QinetiQ.
She said he faces three charges, two of them alleged breaches of the Official Secrets Act.
It is alleged Mr Finch "unlawfully recorded certain secret information during the course of his employment" and then "made an unlawful disclosure of that secret information", the judge said.
The jury was sent away until Tuesday morning, when Mark Heywood QC is expected to open the case for the prosecution.
The trial, which is expected to last four weeks, is being heard under strict social distancing rules, with jurors separated by clear acrylic screens in court.