Juan Joseph, a former MI5 IT contractor, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a week-long trial at the Old Bailey in March, according to multiple reports. Joseph was detained indefinitely under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act, according to multiple reports. Mr Justice Hilliard said Joseph would not have done what he did if he had not been mentally ill, and there is a risk of repeated conduct, according to Mr Justice Hilliard.
Juan Joseph worked as an IT contractor for MI5 for more than a decade between September 8, 2009 and October 30, 2020, during which he had insight into MI5 capabilities and privileged access to highly classified information. According to multiple reports, Joseph had the highest vetting clearance, up to 'developed vetting', during his 11 years at MI5 as a systems engineer and other roles. Joseph had security clearance up to 'developed vetting'.
In 2020, Joseph became mentally unwell, his vetting was removed, and his contract was terminated. According to multiple reports, his contract was terminated in October 2020 after he was taken to St Thomas's hospital displaying mental fragility, anxiety, and paranoia. Joseph discharged himself before assessment and claimed victimization and gaslighting at his termination meeting, according to multiple reports.
After his termination, Joseph raised grievances against MI5 and applied for a private prosecution in August 2024, which was refused. According to multiple reports, Joseph made unfounded complaints against MI5 about racist treatment and claims including rape, child abuse, and torture. He also claimed a swastika was put up in the office and he was injected with something at Thames House, according to multiple reports. The alleged offending began when he applied for a judicial review.
In late 2024 and early 2025, while mentally unwell, he sent emails to bodies representing one or more foreign countries containing damaging information, according to prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC. On November 19, 2024, Joseph sent an email with sensitive information to the High Court, copying a foreign state address. According to research, those emails contained information which the prosecution say should not have been disclosed in that way, the disclosure of which was damaging to UK national interests. An assistant forwarded the email to police the same day.
Joseph traveled to Riga, Latvia and tried to arrange a face-to-face meeting at an embassy. Joseph traveled to Riga on December 8, 2024, and was stopped at Gatwick Airport on his return on December 15. According to prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC, he also travelled to Riga in Latvia and by email asked to meet with representatives of the embassy of another country there in a way that indicates he was intending to and preparing to make further such disclosures.
Police seized five mobile phones and two computers, and Joseph initially refused to hand over PIN numbers. Joseph later provided some codes, and officers recovered two photographs near an embassy.
Juan Joseph is accused of breaching the Official Secrets and National Security Acts. Joseph was told of his life-long obligations under the Official Secrets Act, and he signed a declaration binding him to the Official Secrets Act upon being notified of his termination.
Parts of his Old Bailey trial are being heard behind closed doors with the public or press excluded. According to Mr Justice Hilliard, he ordered the trial to be heard largely behind closed doors to avoid damage to national security.
Joseph was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and did not know his actions were wrong, according to multiple reports, and four psychiatrists agreed he should be given a restricted hospital order, according to multiple reports. Experts agreed Joseph was in the grip of mental illness and did not think he was doing anything wrong, according to multiple reports.
Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC noted a high risk of similar actions if he becomes unwell again, according to Jocelyn Ledward KC. He made contact with the foreign state in 2024 after a bid to bring a private prosecution, according to multiple reports.
According to research, Joseph sometimes worked for another organisation within the UK intelligence community.
The specific foreign state or states Juan Joseph allegedly leaked information to are unknown, as is the exact nature and classification level of the sensitive information he is accused of disclosing. It is also unclear whether any foreign state representatives actually met with or responded to Joseph during his trip to Latvia. The current location and condition of Juan Joseph under the Mental Health Act detention are not publicly confirmed.