Two men accused of spying for China have been cleared after prosecutors admitted there was not enough evidence to bring the case to trial.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told the Old Bailey on Monday it would no longer pursue the case against Christopher Cash, 30, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, 33, a teacher from Oxfordshire. Both had denied the charges under the Official Secrets Act.
They were accused of collecting information that could have been “useful to an enemy” between December 2021 and February 2023. The pair were arrested in March last year as part of a counter-terror police investigation.
Case Collapses in Court
Prosecutor Tom Little KC told the court there was no longer a case to answer. “We simply cannot continue to prosecute this case,” he said. The men had been due to stand trial in October at Woolwich Crown Court.
Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb formally recorded not guilty verdicts for both defendants.
Defendants React
Outside court, Mr Cash said the past two years had been “a nightmare.” He added: “I’m relieved that justice has been served. I hope lessons are learned from this sorry episode.”
Mr Berry did not comment publicly but has always strongly denied the allegations. His legal team said the process had caused severe disruption to his life and work.
Government ‘Disappointed’
The Home Office said it was “disappointing” the men would not face trial. A spokesperson added: “We will continue to use the full range of tools and powers to guard against malign activity.”
Ministers have repeatedly warned of Chinese attempts to gather intelligence in Britain, targeting politics, defence and business.
Links to Parliament
Mr Cash was reported to have been involved with the China Research Group, a network of MPs focusing on Beijing’s role in global affairs. He was understood to have worked with senior Conservatives, including Tom Tugendhat, now a Cabinet minister, and Alicia Kearns, the current chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
His barrister, Henry Blaxland KC, said colleagues of Mr Cash had expressed “disbelief” at his arrest. “We only hope he can now rebuild his life,” he told the court.
China Rejects Allegations
Beijing has consistently denied spying in the UK. When the two men were first charged, a Chinese embassy spokesperson said: “The claim that China is suspected of stealing British intelligence is completely fabricated.” They accused the UK of engaging in “political manipulation.”
Wider Concerns Remain
The collapse of the case does not end concerns over Chinese activity in the UK. In 2023, MI5 issued a rare public alert about Christine Lee, a lawyer accused of seeking to influence MPs on Beijing’s behalf — an allegation she denied. Businessman Yang Tengbo was also barred from Britain the same year over separate spying claims, which he rejected.
Takeaway
The decision to drop the case against Cash and Berry highlights the difficulty of prosecuting alleged espionage. While both men are now cleared, ministers and security services say the threat from hostile states remains a serious challenge.
