Man used ‘sock camera’ to spy on Iran journalist, court hears

A Greek national has been accused of spying on an Iranian journalist in the UK by using a covert camera hidden inside a sock, a court has heard.

Ioannis Aidinidis, who was born in Georgia and lives in Munich, Germany, is alleged to have carried out surveillance on a London-based journalist working for Iran International, a Persian-language TV channel.

The prosecutor Lee Ingham told Westminster magistrates court that Aidinidis, 46, had travelled to the UK on two occasions in April and May 2026.

On the second visit, Aidinidis allegedly “installed a covert camera hidden in a sock”, which was “able to send data to persons unknown abroad”. He was said to have then planted the camera in a tree.

Aidinidis appeared before Westminster magistrates court yesterday charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, believed to be Iran, under the National Security Act after an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London.

He confirmed his identity through a Russian interpreter but did not enter any pleas. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 19 June.

Ingham said Aidinidis allegedly visited addresses linked to the journalist during both of his trips to London. He is accused of photographing and filming homes and car registration plates.

Ingham said messages on Aidinidis’s phone indicated he was being funded by people abroad and that separate evidence suggested he carried out surveillance on a defence firm in Italy in between his trips to Britain.

Police said his actions were believed to be on behalf of Iran.

Journalists working for Iran International have been “openly targeted” by the Iranian government, Ingham told the court, with staff having featured on “Wanted: dead or alive” posters.

Police said there is not believed to be any wider threat to the public.