Russian spy working in British embassy in Berlin jailed for more than 13 years
A British embassy security guard caught spying for the Russians has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison.
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.
David Ballantyne Smith
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”.
“It was your job to ensure the embassy was secure and its staff safe. It was the most obvious breach of the trust placed in you,” the judge said.
He said Smith’s “persistent, and to an extent, sophisticated” information gathering had caused “understandable anxiety and stress” to the embassy’s staff and their families.
The judge said Smith was “paid by Russia for [his] treachery” but there was no evidence the payment amounted to “life-changing sums of money”.
David Ballantyne Smith, during his meeting with “Irina”
Smith took photographs and documents from desks and drawers, as well as filming CCTV footage.
He provided names, photographs and personal details of embassy staff as well as secret documents to Russian officials.
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.
Mr Justice Wall also provided details about the sting operation that led to Smith’s arrest.
A British agent posed as a Russian official named Dmitri and offered to pass sensitive information to British authorities knowing Smith could overhear.
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Smith was then instructed to create copies of what he believed were classified Russian documents and dispose of packaging from a SIM card. Smith kept an extra copy of the document as well as the SIM packaging.
The cost so far of securing the British embassy in Berlin after Smith’s crimes stands at £820,000.
Mr Justice Wall said Smith “developed decidedly anti-British and anti-Western feeling” and that this was the “direct cause” of the offending.
Colleagues heard Smith criticise the UK and Germany and felt he was sympathetic to Russia and President Putin.
He admitted to openly supporting Russian-backed forces in the Donbas region of Ukraine.
While Smith’s sentence relates to crimes committed from 2020 to his arrest in 2021, the judge said he was sure the former security guard began collecting information in 2018.
Two women have died following reports of a stabbing in Milton Keynes on Christmas Day, police have said.
A dog injured in the incident in Bletchley also died after being taken to the vets.
A man and a teenage boy suffered serious injuries.
A 49-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and remains in custody.
Forensic officers at the scene. Pics: PA
Officers were called to a block of apartments in Santa Cruz Avenue just after 6.30pm on Christmas Day following reports of a stabbing.
The two women, aged 38 and 24, died at the scene, Thames Valley Police said. Their next of kin have been informed.
The injured man and teenage boy were taken to hospital and are both in a stable condition.
Police said the parties are known to each other.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin said: “Firstly I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families of the women who have tragically died in this shocking incident.
“We have launched a double murder investigation, which may be concerning to the wider public; however, we have made an arrest and are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident and the parties are known to each other.”
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