British soldier ignored order to pull his SIM card, then got blackmailed

British Army corporal Daniel Barton-Kennedy was court-martialed after ignoring an order to remove his phone’s SIM card before deployment to Estonia. His phone was hacked and nude photographs were used to blackmail him, highlighting the personal and operational risks of failing to follow security instructions.

Barton-Kennedy was serving with the 1st Battalion, Duke of Lancaster Regiment, during Exercise Eastern Warrior near Tapa, about 90 miles west of the Russian border. Soldiers were told to remove SIM cards, disable location settings and use a trusted VPN; he paid the blackmailer £100 before refusing a further £250 and reporting the incident. He pleaded guilty, was reduced in rank and sentenced to 10 months’ detention; his appeal was rejected in August 2026.