UK man convicted of offering minister's information to Russian intelligence
LONDON (Reuters) -A British man who offered personal information about former defence minister Grant Shapps to Russian intelligence for money was on Tuesday found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
Howard Phillips offered Shapps' home address and phone number to two people he believed were Russian agents but were in fact British undercover officers, prosecutors said.
The 65-year-old denied one count of engaging in conduct intended to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail.
Phillips gave evidence at his trial at Winchester Crown Court, claiming he was trying to "trap and expose a foreign agent".
But he was convicted of the offence under the National Security Act by a jury on Tuesday. He will be sentenced at a later date.
At the start of his trial, prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward said Phillips offered to help Russian intelligence "not necessarily for ideological reasons or because he sympathised with the Russian state".
Ledward said Phillips had sought to carry out "easy – and, perhaps, interesting or exciting – work for easy money".
Phillips was approached in March 2024 by purported Russian agents, using the names Sasha and Dima, who asked Phillips to save a file onto a clean USB stick, stating what he could offer and why, and hide it inside a parked bicycle on a London street.
He later met Dima in May 2024, saying he knew Shapps' home address, telephone number and where his private plane was kept as he had visited Shapps' house, Ledward said.
Phillips also offered logistical support, by booking a hotel and buying a mobile phone for a foreign intelligence service, prosecutors said.
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
Zelensky calls for regime change in Russia at Helsinki conference
HELSINKI: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for international efforts to push for 'regime change' in Russia during a virtual address at a Helsinki conference. He warned that without such action, Moscow would continue destabilising neighbouring countries even after the war in Ukraine ends. The conference marked 50 years since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, a Cold War-era agreement aimed at improving relations between rival blocs. Zelensky stressed that Russia must be compelled to end its war in Ukraine. 'I believe Russia can be pushed to stop this war. It started it, and it can be made to end it,' he said. He also urged stronger economic measures against Moscow, including the confiscation of frozen Russian assets. 'We need to fully block Russia's war machine ... put every frozen Russian asset, including the stolen wealth of corruption, to work defending against Russian aggression,' Zelensky stated. Russia, though still listed as an OSCE member, has suspended participation in the organisation's parliamentary assembly, calling it discriminatory. The Helsinki Final Act's principles, including border inviolability, have been severely tested since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Finland, hosting the event, closed its border with Russia last year after accusing Moscow of orchestrating a migrant influx. The Kremlin denies the allegations. – AFP
Barnama
18 minutes ago
- Barnama
Anwar Relieved As No Serious Casualties Or Damage In Russia Quake
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed relief that no serious casualties or widespread damage had been reported following the massive earthquake off Russia's far eastern coast. In his Facebook post today, he also commended the swift action of early‑warning systems and emergency responders who moved quickly to protect lives. 'The massive earthquake off Russia's far eastern coast, among the strongest ever recorded, has been a cause for deep concern. 'Like many, I watched the tsunami warnings across the Pacific with a heavy heart, knowing how much was at stake for communities from Kamchatka to Japan, Guam and beyond. 'My thoughts remain with all those who spent anxious hours waiting for news and I hope the danger has passed for good,' he said. The massive quake has triggered tsunami warnings for millions of people across the Pacific, including in Japan, the United States and Mexico. Hours after the quake rocked Russia's Far East, there were no reports of major damage on Wednesday. In many regions, tsunami warnings were lifted or downgraded. The main quake, which hit at about 11:24 am on Wednesday (2324 GMT Tuesday), was recorded by the US Geological Survey (USGS) at magnitude 8.8 - the strongest globally since Japan's Fukushima disaster in March 2011, and one of the six most powerful earthquakes ever measured. Russian authorities reported a magnitude of 8.7.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Rights groups urge Nepal to reverse Telegram ban
KATHMANDU: Rights groups on Thursday (July 31) urged Nepal to reverse a ban on the Telegram messaging app, calling the move a serious threat to freedom of expression and digital privacy. The Himalayan nation blocked access to the app on July 18, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering. "The government's ban is a serious human rights violation and a discriminatory decision," said Taranath Dahal of Freedom Forum, a media freedom watchdog. "This shows the government can ban any platform without transparency, which is extremely concerning." Freedom Forum was among more than two dozen organisations to release a statement demanding an "immediate" reversal of the ban. "The sudden, unlawful disruption has severely impacted journalists, human rights defenders, students, small businesses, and others who depend on the platform for essential day-to-day communication," said a statement released by #KeepItOn, an international coalition of civil society organisations. Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, confirmed the government's directive. "We asked all internet service providers to block the app after receiving an order from the Prime Minister's Office," Aryal told AFP. Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past. In August last year, the government lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok after the platform's South Asia division agreed to comply with Nepali regulations. Telegram, launched in 2013, is a cloud-based messaging app known for its privacy features and support for large group chats and broadcast channels. The app has an estimated billion users worldwide, but faces restrictions in some countries. Telegram's Russian-born founder and chief executive Pavel Durov was briefly detained in France last year and questioned again this week about the platform's alleged complicity in criminal activity. - AFP
