A partly secret trial of a disgruntled ex-MI5 worker who claimed he had undergone ninja-style training in “swords and knives and stuff” at its London headquarters was reported.
juan josephWhen the 43-year-old was arrested at the Ibis Hotel in January 2025 for allegedly violating Official Secrets and National Security Acts, he had a lock knife in his pocket.
The Old Bailey heard that a search of his nearby home led to the discovery of a home-made card falsely identifying him as an MI5 officer.
Joseph, a former IT contractor in the security service, was detained after allegedly leaking sensitive information to a foreign power via email and trying to arrange a meeting at an embassy in Latvia as he lodged a complaint against MI5.
In a police interview, Joseph said that while he was a “whistleblower” and was allowed to have a locked knife “as an officer” for “defense”, he had purchased it online.
He mentioned taking self-defense training with a ninjutsu instructor at MI5’s London headquarters, Thames House, which he said was “swords and knives and stuff”.
However, Joseph told the police that he had brought the knife only as a deterrent and had not used it.
He also said that he has a first-time black belt in Taekwondo, and has also trained in Aikido, Judo and wrestling.
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When Joseph was asked about his health, he claimed that he had developed heart disease after being “attacked with a needle” at Thames House.
He told officers that a swastika had been drawn in the office and that he had been stabbed with a needle containing a substance, leaving him in a “very bad” condition.
“I now have a permanent problem with my heart, which is hyperkinesia, which is my heart not being able to pump properly,” he said.
Joseph insisted he had done nothing wrong and that he had been the victim of racial abuse attacks while at work. MI5According to interview transcripts read in court.
Commenting on the allegations against him, he said: “I don’t think there’s anything in there that could harm the United Kingdom, otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it, you know?
“I can only reiterate, there is no malice there, I have no deliberate intention to hurt anyone.”
He added, “I’m not a threat to the country, I would never do that you know. It’s really hurtful that people are saying things like that about me and it’s the God’s honest truth.”
Joseph had the highest number of investigative clearances during his 11 years in the security service, working as a systems engineer, security IT management engineer and senior support engineer.
His contract was terminated in October 2020 after he was taken to hospital with what colleagues described as “mental weakness”, “extreme anxiety” and “paranoia”.
Jurors heard that Joseph made “racist comments” and unfounded complaints about violent crimes including rape, child abuse and torture.
The alleged crimes began in 2024 after a bid to bring a private prosecution for an alleged attack in 2019 was rejected.
The defendant, from Sutton, south London, has denied four charges under the Official Secrets Act and the National Security Act.
He also denied having any bladed or pointed object when he was arrested in a hotel in Sutton.
The Old Bailey trial, which is being partly heard in the absence of the public and press, continues.
