When the BBC revealed that MI5 had lied to three courts, the Security Service apologised for giving false evidence - vowing to investigate and explain how such a serious failure had occurred.

A decision on whether to issue contempt of court proceedings over false evidence given to the High Court by an MI5 officer has been adjourned to allow time for a further investigation, Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr has said.

Senior judges held out the prospect of holding MI5 officers in contempt as they ordered an independent investigation into how the UK security service misled the courts about an agent accused of abusing women.