A British embassy security guard caught spying for the Russians has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison.Russian spy working in British embassy in Berlin jailed for more than 13 years.
David Ballantyne Smith, 58, pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act 1911 and 1920 but claimed he did not intentionally cause any harm.
He was sentenced to 13 years and two months but can serve the term in either Germany or the UK.
Smith, from Paisley, Scotland, claimed he was depressed, lonely and drinking up to seven pints a day when he started leaking embassy secrets in an effort to cause embarrassment.
Mr Justice Wall dismissed this during sentencing at the Old Bailey, saying he collected “a significant amount of material” to “damage British interests” and provided that information to a “hostile power”.
He provided names, photographs and personal details of embassy staff to Russian officials, as well as secret documents including correspondence to then prime minister Boris Johnson.
He also filmed an extensive walk around the embassy which revealed the layout of the building and its offices, taking care to film through windows.
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, the judge said.
Xi Jinping does not want to damage relations with the US, says Joe Biden
