James Bond fantasist jailed for 7 years in UK for trying to spy for Russia

A British antheral who had aspirations of being James Bond has been jailed for 7 years for trying to spy for what helium believed to beryllium Russian quality work agents

LONDON -- A British antheral who would "dream astir being similar James Bond" was jailed Friday for 7 years aft trying to spy for Russia.

Howard Phillips, 65, was recovered blameworthy successful July for trying to walk accusation astir erstwhile Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who helium knew, to 2 men who helium believed were Russian quality agents. However, the ‘agents’ were undercover British quality agents.

“You were prepared to betray your state for money,” Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb told Phillips astatine his sentencing proceeding astatine Winchester Crown Court, successful the southbound of England.

The justice said that Phillips had “a property with narcissistic tendencies and an overblown consciousness of his ain importance."

The proceedings heard that Phillips intended to assistance Russian agents betwixt the extremity of 2023 and May 2024 — Shapps was defence caput betwixt August 2023 and July 2024 erstwhile his Conservative Party was ousted from powerfulness and helium mislaid his spot successful Parliament astatine the wide election.

Specifically, the proceedings heard however Phillips had tried to manus implicit Shapps’ interaction details arsenic good arsenic the determination wherever helium kept his backstage level to “facilitate the Russians successful listening connected British defence plans.”

The defendant’s ex-wife told the tribunal that Phillips “would imagination astir being similar James Bond,” and watched films astir the British concealed services due to the fact that helium was “infatuated with it.”

In a unfortunate interaction connection work to the court, Shapps expressed his daze astatine learning of Phillips’ activities. He recalled going to meal astatine Phillips' location successful 2002.

“What is unacceptable is 1 individual’s reckless behaviour exposing my full household to the highly superior risks that travel from a overseas quality service’s activities," helium said.

Bethan David, caput of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, said the condemnation sends “a wide connection to anyone considering spying for oregon assisting Russia.”

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