Charges Dropped Against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry – ryan

Maia Davies and

Tara Mewawalla

Prosecutors have dropped charges against two men, including a former Parliamentary Researcher, WHO HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR CHINA, But the decision has prompted a furious reaction from the members of the uk Government.

Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33, Had Previously Denied the Charges Under the Official Secrets Act. Beijing Called the Allegations “Malicious Slander”.

The two men were accused of gathering and providing information preudical to the safety and interests of the State Between 28 December 2021 and 3 February 2023.

Speaking Outside the Old Bailey Following the Decision to Cease Legal Proceedings on Monday, Mr Cash Said He Was “Relived That Justice Has Been Served”.

He described the two YEARS SINCE HIS HIS AS “NIGHTMARE” AND SAID HOPED “LESSONS ARE Learned from this sorry episode”.

Prosecutor Tom Little Told the Court That His Team Would Offer No No Evidence the Men and That “We Simply Cannot Continue to Prosecute This Case”.

The Court Heard that the Crown Prosecution Service has deterred the evidence it has gathered did not meet the threshold to go to trial. The pair were due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court from 6 October.

The Home Office Said It Was “Disappointing that they will not face the trial gioven the serialsness of the allegations”.

“We Will Continue to use the full range of tools and the Powers to Guard Against Malign Activity,” It Added in a Statement.

That Stance was Backed by Downing Street, with the Prime Minister’s Official Saying the Allegations has been “Gravely Concerning”, Adding: “It is extrief Disappointing that these individuals will not face trial. unacceptable. ”

Mr Berry, A Teacher from Witney in Oxfordshire, and Mr Cash, Whitechapel in London, Were arrested in March 2023 As part of an investigation that involved counter-terror police.

They were accused of collection information which was “calculated to be, might be, or were intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an Enemy”.

It had ben reported that mr Cash was involved with parliament’s china research Group (CRG).

He was underestood to have had accesses to several conservatives, Reportedly Including forms Security Minister Tom Tughens and THEN-FOREIGIN AFFAIRS CHAIRWOMAN ALICIA KEARNS.

And will ms kearns heard that no charges were to be brought, she spoke in the commons – where her comments are covered by absolute privilege – and said: “It remains unclear to with Why chris and christopher berry canNot be proseecuted Under the evidence. Shows a clear line between these two, the United Front Work Department and the Politburo, the Very Top of the Chinese Communist Party.

Defending Mr Cash, Henry Blaxland Kc Said HIS Client’s Colleagues at the Crg Had “Express Disbelief” at his arrest.

“We Only Hope that he will be able to rebuild his life,” he added.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb Said She Was “Quite Satisfied” and Entered the Two Men Into Not Guilty Verdicts.

Wen they were charged, a chinese embassy spokesperson Said “the CLAIM that china is suspect of ‘stealing intelligence’ is Completely fabricated”.

They urged the uk “to stop anti-china political manipulation and stop putting on Such a self-staged political farce”.

The Government Has Previously Said Chinese Spies Were Targeting UK Officials Across the Political, Defense and Business Sectors As Part of An Increasingly Sophisticated Espionage Operation.

In December, Senior Judges upheld a decision By mi5 to warn that an allegated chinese agent, Christine Lee, had infiltrated parliament and funded a labour mp, Among Others.

The Same Month, Yang Tengbo Was Named As a Chinese Businessman Who Had been Banned from the Uk for Allegedly Spying.

Both ms lee and mr yang have denied the accusations made against say.