A former intern at GCHQ has admitted to risking national security by transferring top secret data to his personal computer.
Hasaan Arshad, 25, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 at the Old Bailey on what would have been the first day of his trial.
The charge related to an unauthorised act that created a significant risk to national security.
Serious breach of security protocols
On 24 August 2022, Arshad took his work-issued mobile phone into a top secret area of GCHQ—a serious breach of security protocols. While there, he connected the device to a classified work station and transferred sensitive data from a secure top secret computer onto his phone, it was alleged.
Instead of keeping the data within the highly restricted government network, Arshad took the phone home. He then transferred the classified information from the phone onto a hard drive connected to his personal computer.
His actions put highly sensitive intelligence at risk, compromising national security.
Arrest and investigation
Authorities arrested Arshad on 22 September 2022, exactly a month after the alleged offences took place. Following his arrest, officers conducted a search of his home, seizing multiple devices for forensic analysis.
On Monday, at the Old Bailey, Arshad pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 3ZA of the Computer Misuse Act 1990, which relates to unauthorised acts causing, or creating a risk of, serious damage.
The charge stated:
“Between 23 August 2022 and 23 September 2022, (he) did an unauthorised act in relation to a computer and at the time of doing the act knew that it was unauthorised; and the act caused, or created a significant risk of a material kind, this being damage to the national security of a country; and he intended by doing the act to cause serious damage of a material kind or was reckless as to whether such damage was caused.”
Recklessness or intent?
Defence barrister Nina Grahame KC told the court that Arshad had admitted the offence on the basis of recklessness, rather than intent to harm national security.
However, prosecutors argued that by transferring highly classified data outside the secure GCHQ network, Arshad had seriously compromised government intelligence.
The Ministry of Justice classifies “Top Secret” information as the highest level of security classification, where compromise could lead to widespread loss of life, national security threats, or severe economic damage to the UK or allied nations.
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Additional charges and sentencing
The court also heard that Arshad had previously admitted two charges of making an indecent photograph of a child. A number of these images were found on his devices between 7 and 23 September 2022.
Due to the gravity of the offences, Mrs Justice McGowan adjourned sentencing for all charges to 13 June.
She ordered a pre-sentence report but warned Arshad that this did not mean he would avoid a custodial sentence.
“I want you to understand because of your age I am making the request for the pre-sentence report in this case, but that does not mean there will not be a custodial sentence,” she told him.
Arshad, dressed in a smart dark grey suit, white shirt, and dark brown tie, nodded in understanding before leaving the dock.
The judge granted him continued bail under strict conditions, including a ban on accessing the dark web.
Parts of trial to be heard in private
Due to the sensitive nature of the case, the senior judge ruled that some elements of the trial would be heard behind closed doors, excluding both the press and the public.
The ruling reflects the serious national security concerns surrounding the handling of classified government data.
What happens next?
Arshad will now await sentencing next month, where he faces potential imprisonment. The case highlights the stringent security measures in place at GCHQ and the severe consequences of unauthorised access to classified material.
Government agencies remain on high alert for any insider threats, ensuring that those who compromise national security—whether through recklessness or intent—are brought to justice.
