Man accused of stabbing US spy working at GCHQ to stand trial in October

A man accused of trying to murder a “US spy” who worked at GCHQ is set to stand trial later this year, the Old Bailey heard on Friday.

Joshua Bowles, 29, is accused of repeatedly stabbing the woman outside a leisure centre in Cheltenham, just a few miles from GCHQ headquarters.

Appearing at the Old Bailey via videolink from HMP Belmarsh, Bowles spoke to confirm his name and date of birth during the preliminary hearing.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said Bowles would stand trial on October 3 at Birmingham crown court, in a case being overseen by a High Court judge.

The defendant is expected to appear in court again on July 28 to enter pleas. He faces an attempted murder charge and two allegations of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Bowles was arrested following an investigation by the Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) unit.

GCHQ is the UK’s intelligence, security, and cyber agency, and regularly hosts agents from allied nations as well as British operatives.

The woman was not named and referred to only by the codenumber 99230.

Bowles is accused of stabbing the woman repeatedly in the incident at around 9.15pm on March 9, and also punching a man, Alex Fuentes, who went to speak to him afterwards.

The woman suffered wounds to her abdomen, liver, leg, and chest, and was rushed to hospital for treatment in intensive care.

Bowles, who lives in the village of Up Hatherley on the outskirts of Cheltenham, was remanded back into custody and has not yet entered any pleas.