A 28-year-old man is believed to have been arrested on suspicion of selling former Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney’s stolen phone. The phone was reportedly stolen in Pimlico, central London, on October 20 last year.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Officers investigating the theft of a mobile phone in Belgrave Road, Pimlico, on October 20, 2025, have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of handling stolen goods. The arrest took place on Wednesday, April 29 at an address in Peckham. The man was taken into police custody and later bailed. He is suspected of receiving the phone after it was stolen and then selling it on. He is not suspected of any involvement in the original theft. “The phone has not been recovered.”
The arrest marks a significant development in a case that has sparked considerable concern regarding the security of high-ranking Government officials.
Mr McSweeney, a key architect of the Labour Party’s recent electoral success and a central figure in Keir Starmer’s inner circle, was targeted in what appeared to be a routine street robbery.
However, the sensitive nature of his role as Chief of Staff immediately elevated the incident’s profile, prompting fears that departmental data or private communications could be compromised.
Since the theft in October, the Metropolitan Police have been tracing the device’s digital footprint.
While the 28-year-old suspect is not believed to be the individual who physically snatched the phone, investigators are focusing on the black market trade of high-end electronics that often facilitates the disposal of stolen government hardware.
Despite the arrest, the physical device remains missing, leaving questions unanswered about whether the data was wiped or if the hardware was merely sold for its parts.
Security protocols for Westminster staff are reportedly under review following the breach.