Embassy spy is jailed for 13 years
A BERLIN embassy spy has been jailed for more than 13 years for betraying his country and colleagues by selling secrets to Russia.
David Smith, a former security guard at the British Embassy in Germany, was motivated by his support for Russian president Vladimir Putin and hatred of the UK when he began collecting classified documents in 2018.
He sent two letters to senior officials at the Russian Embassy in 2020, with one exposing the identity of a diplomat who had worked in Russia – referred to as X – as well as details of colleagues.
Police launched an investigation after Smith’s second letter to a military attache at the Russian Embassy in November 2020 was traced back to him.
In an undercover sting operation in August 2021, two role players were deployed as a fake Russian defector and intelligence officer.
Following his arrest, police found Smith’s stash of sensitive and secret documents, including correspondence to then Prime Minister Boris Johnson from ministers.
Smith, 58, pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act by committing an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state.
The court was told of ‘potentially catastrophic’ consequences for ‘each and every’ British official in Berlin, with the cost to the taxpayer of updating security estimated at £820,000.
Smith’s spying could have harmed Britain’s international trade negotiations and came at a time the UK was ‘calling out’ Russian actions, including amassing vast numbers of troops on the Ukraine border.
Mr Justice Wall had dismissed Smith’s evidence, including his claim that he only wanted to embarrass the embassy.
The judge ruled that the evidence showed Smith was taking money from Russia as part of an ‘ongoing’ relationship.
He had collected material since 2018 with a view to handing it over ‘at some stage,’ the judge found.
In a televised sentencing at the Old Bailey yesterday, Mr Justice Wall jailed ex-RAF serviceman Smith to 13 years and two months.
The senior judge told Smith that during his ‘subversive activities’ dating back to 2018 he had copied a ‘significant amount of material.’
He said: “You were fully aware that you should not have copied any of these documents and equally aware were these documents to get into the wrong hands, they might harm British interests or pose a threat to those working at the British Embassy.”
The judge added: “You established regular contact with someone at the Russian Embassy and this contact was a conduit through which material illegally obtained by you was passed on.”