UK Space Command chief suspended over alleged serious sexual offence and theft

Air Vice-Marshal Jamie Thompson, the commander of UK Space Command, has been suspended amid allegations of a “serious sexual offence” and theft, The Sun has reported.

Thompson was arrested at the Ministry of Defence in London weeks after taking the helm at UK Space Command, The Sun says. An RAF spokesman confirmed he had been “suspended without prejudice” and named Air Commodore Darren Whiteley as interim commander.

The Defence Serious Crime Command said: “We can confirm that a member of the RAF was arrested in connection to reports of theft and a serious sexual offence involving an adult.” It added: “The theft investigation has concluded and has been referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority for a charging decision. The investigation into the alleged serious sexual offence remains ongoing.”

The Sun reports Thompson is accused of attacking an employee and stealing from the MoD.

UK Space Command, headquartered at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, defends Britain’s satellites, conducts space missions and detects space-based missile attacks.

Thompson, an ex-Special Forces officer, enlisted in the RAF in 1997, served with a bomb disposal unit and was commissioned as an officer in 2003. He became deputy commander of UK Space Command in December 2024 and took over the command in June.

He had been due to host the inaugural Space Power Conference in London this week alongside Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Chief of Air Staff Harv Smyth.