Former BAE worker admits leaking missile defence data

A FORMER defence worker, who “put the entire safety of the UK at risk” by leaking top secret missile defence details in revenge for a perceived slight by the state, has dramatically changed his plea and admitted breaching the Official Secrets Act.

Simon Finch, 50, took the action after claiming he had been mistreated by the authorities when he reported that he had been the victim of two homophobic attacks in 2013.

The software expert, who had worked for BAE systems and Qinetiq, accused Merseyside Police of failing to take the matter seriously.

Using his “photographic memory” he wrote down confidential information about the defence system and then emailed it to eight people, also claiming to have forwarded it to a hostile state.

Finch had attempted to put forward a defence of “duress of circumstance” claiming he had no choice but to leak the information.

But the judge rejected the defence saying it could only be used in “extreme cases”, prompting Finch to change his plea and admit the charges.

The trial heard how Finch, a maths graduate, had been motivated by a desire to exact retribution on the British system, which he felt had let him down.

Despite not being gay, Finch claimed he had twice been the victim of homophobic abuse in 2013. But when he reported the alleged attacks he said Merseyside Police had failed to investigate or even report the incident as a hate crime.

Fearing for his safety he began carrying weapons with him and in 2016 received a suspended sentence after being caught carrying a hammer and a machete.

Finch accused police of torturing him during his arrest, further fuelling his anger with the authorities.

He was remanded into custody to be sentenced at the Old Bailey today.