UK Embassy Spy Jailed 13 Years
A Berlin embassy spy who betrayed his country and colleagues by passing secrets to Russia has been jailed for more than 13 years.
David Smith, 58, a former security guard at the British embassy in Berlin, had an ‘ongoing relationship’ with Moscow and was paid for his ‘treachery’, the Old Bailey heard.
Motivated by a hatred of the UK and a warped admiration of Vladimir Putin, the Scottish ex-serviceman 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.
Embassy staff were left with ‘feelings of anger, betrayal and upset and concern at the implications of their details being shared with a hostile state actor’, the court heard.
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.
He may even have been directed by his handler when he filmed private offices, including photographs of colleagues’ family and friends on their desks.
In a televised sentencing on Friday, Mr Justice Wall jailed ex-RAF serviceman Smith for 13 years and two months.
The senior judge said Smith began stealing secrets ‘by stealth’ from the embassy at night in 2018 and had continued until his arrest in 2021.
He said: ‘You were fully aware that you should not have copied any of those documents and were equally aware that, were those documents to get into the wrong hands, they might harm British interests or pose a threat to the safety of people working at the embassy.’
In passing on photographs of embassy staff annotated with personal details, he put colleagues at ‘maximum risk’.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
