The 66-year-old handed over personal details of the UK’s secretary of state for defence at the time.
Howard Phillips, 66(Image: Metropolitan Police )
A man has been jailed after undercover officers found him offering to hand over information to Russia. Howard Phillips, 66, spoke to undercover officers whom he believed were Russian agents, offering to hand over personal details of a former cabinet minister and provide logistical support to Russian espionage activities.
Phillips offered his help to spy for the Russian Intelligence Service via emails, social media messages and face to face meetings in return for payment. The British man was arrested by officers from the Counter Terrorism Command on May 16, 2024, in central London.
A two-week trial in July heard that Phillips travelled to London for a meeting with two people he thought to be Russian agents, who were in fact undercover officers.
The jury heard Phillips, of Harlow, handed over personal details of the UK’s secretary of state for defence at the time. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
Phillips had previously met the Minister, who was his local MP, and visited his house.
He told the officers that he had applied to work at UK Border Force and was applying for Home Office security clearance for that role.
Phillips handed a USB to the two officers with documents on it in and said he could be someone who could “move undetected and travel anywhere at any time, no questions asked” and “avoid suspicion.”
After his arrest the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges against Phillips, and he was charged on May 23, 2024, with an offence under section 3 of the National Security Act, 2023.
He was convicted of this offence in July and was sentenced on Thursday, November 6, to seven years’ imprisonment.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “This case demonstrates the serious consequences for anyone who thinks working on behalf of the Russian intelligence service is a way of earning easy money.
“As shown by the recent conviction of Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves, we are making full use of the National Security Act to ensure those who act against the interests of our country are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
“The truth is, those who work as ‘proxies for Russia are unlikely to receive a large cash windfall. In fact, there is a strong likelihood they won’t be given any money at all.
“However, what they are doing is risking their liberty for a long period of time. As this case shows, those convicted under the National Security Act can expect to receive lengthy prison sentences.”
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