INSIDE FLAT OF ‘SPY WHO SOLD SECRETS TO PUTIN’
BERLIN spying suspect David Smith is an overweight oddball who kept Russian flags and Soviet military caps in his flat – alongside his teddy bear collection.
First pictures inside the home where the British embassy guard was arrested for allegedly selling secrets to Vladimir Putin (pictured) also show his fascination for military history and espionage.
Books on Hitler’s SS 12th Panzer Division – infamous for World War II atrocities – sit on the 57-year-old’s shelves next to Red Road From Stalingrad, Eastern Front Combat and For The Homeland.
Other books – some in Russian – include John le Carré’s 1962 spy novel A Murder Of Quality and conspiracy theorist David Icke’s self-published The Trigger.
Russia’s red, white and blue flag is on a
pole propped in a corner. As well as three military caps with hammer and sickle badges – one worn by a toy rottweiler – there are insignia of its Baltic, Black Sea, Northern and Pacific navy fleets.
The rented one-bed ground floor apartment is in a modern block in tree-lined Kiepenheuerallee street in Potsdam, 16 miles from the embassy. It also contains his collection of cuddly teddy bears, a PlayStation on the floor and a computer with loose papers on a
table. Mr Smith’s silver Ford Fiesta – with another teddy on the passenger seat – is parked 15 yards away in a reserved space. Inside are a pair of black leather gloves and what appear to be cleaning spray and screenwash – German paper Bild joked it was far from James Bond’s Aston Martin. The suspect – named officially only as David S by German prosecutors – was arrested in a raid by British and German police on Monday night. Prosecutors said: ‘On at least one occasion, he forwarded documents obtained in the course of his professional activities to a representative of a Russian intelligence service.’
He is believed to have been tracked around the clock by MI5 since at least November.
Met commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said yesterday: ‘We’ve been involved for a number of months. It’s a very good example of international co-working.’