MI5 officer 'Mark Barton' denies sex attack on female spy

 
gold statue figure of Justice with weighing balance, London Court
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10 December 2012
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A spy has appeared in court to deny sexually assaulting and beating a colleague.

The MI5 officer - who is known in court by the pseudonym Mark Barton - is accused of attacking the female colleague between August and December last year.

She is known in the proceedings as "2363".

Today, Barton appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court behind a screen to deny four charges: two of assault, one of sexual assault and one of putting a person in fear of violence and harassment.

The security services officer, who will also go on trial under his false name, spoke only to deny the charges.

Although the 28-year-old is screened from the public, the jury will see him and all the witnesses.

The witnesses will also be given anonymity and be referred to by their work personal identification numbers and some first names, the court heard.

The defendant is allowed to go through the court process under a false name because of fears that his life would be at risk if he was to be properly identified.

Judge Alistair McCreath, the Recorder of Westminster, set a seven-day trial for June 24 with a pre-trial review listed for April 2.

Barton was released on bail with conditions of not contacting the complainant.

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