Christopher Cash, 29, from Whitechapel, east London, and Christopher Berry, 32, from Witney, Oxfordshire, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, where they both pleaded not guilty

to charges of espionage for China.

Cash, who previously worked as a parliamentary researcher with ties to prominent Conservative figures such as leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat, and Berry, face allegations under the Official Secrets Act.

According to the charges, between December 28, 2021, and February 3, 2023, the two men allegedly obtained, collected, recorded, published, or communicated materials—including articles, notes, and documents—potentially useful to an enemy of the state, with the intent to compromise national security.

The court has scheduled a further case management hearing for early next year, with a provisional trial set to begin on October 6 at Woolwich Crown Court, expected to last five to seven weeks. Photo by Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey by Stephen Richards, Wikimedia commons.