Daily Standard

The jury at the Old Bailey took just over four hours to return a unanimous verdict on the trial of Peter Flynn, the British director who was arrested two months ago after secret documents were found in his office, home and car. Mr Flynn will be sentenced later today.

When Peter Flynn was arrested in February, neither he nor his company, Evans Defence Systems, would have been known to many people. Since then, the interest in his trial has grown to become something of a national obsession., and the repercussions are set to continue.

The Prime Minister, who is understood to have been considering new secrecy legislation for some time, is expected to

make a statement in the Commons later today.

It is the first time in years that anyone in Britain has been found guilty of treason, and in addition to the peripheral charges of which Mr Flynn has been found guilty, there is very little the presiding judge can do other than hand down a life sentence.

Mr Flynn, who has not been able to speak or to be pictured on camera throughout the legal process, has refused to comment on the outcome. He is believed to be considering an appeal.