U.Okay. jury finds man, who dreamt of being James Bond, responsible of trying to spy for Russia

Howard Phillips, 65, sought to move details about former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to 2 males he believed had been Russian brokers. However, the brokers had been undercover British intelligence brokers.

A jury at Winchester Crown Court discovered Phillips responsible of helping what he believed to be a international intelligence company. The unanimous verdict got here after 4 hours of deliberations.

He was remanded into custody and will likely be sentenced within the fall. No exact date was set.

Prosecutors mentioned Phillips provided to show over Shapps’ contact particulars in addition to the situation the place he saved his non-public airplane to “facilitate the Russians in listening on British defence plans”.

The defendant’s ex-wife instructed the court docket that Phillips “would dream about being like James Bond,” and watched movies concerning the British secret providers as a result of he was “infatuated with it”.

Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s counterterrorism division, mentioned the conviction sends a transparent message to anybody contemplating spying for Russia.

“Phillips was brazen in his pursuit for financial gain, and unbothered about the potential detriment to his own country,” Mr. David mentioned.