Ex-MI6 man remanded on data theft charge

A former MI6 worker accused of stealing and disclosing top secret material appeared in court today.

Daniel Houghton, 25, worked for the Secret Intelligence Service between September 2007 and May last year.

He is accused of stealing the material and of breaching the Official Secrets Act by disclosing the files.

Houghton, of Hoxton, north London, spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood the proceedings when he appeared at Inner London Crown Court.

Mr Justice Bean ordered him to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on June 10 for a plea and case management hearing.

Houghton, who appeared via videolink from High Down prison in Sutton where he is on remand, wore an open neck striped shirt for today's hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes.

He was arrested on March 1 at a central London hotel.