A person has been discovered responsible of helping a international intelligence service after handing over private particulars of the then defence secretary, Grant Shappsto 2 undercover officers he believed to be Russian brokers.

Howard Phillips, 65, was convicted at Winchester crown court docket after jurors heard he had been in search of “straightforward cash” when he provided his companies to the undercover officers, generally known as Dima and Sasha.

Phillips, from Harlow, in Essexhanded a USB stick containing particulars regarding Shapps, together with his dwelling handle and the placement of his personal airplane, to one of many officers, the trial heard. He advised the jury he was Jewish and met Shapps at a synagogue as his native MP within the constituency of Welwyn Hatfield.

Phillips, who advised the faux Russian brokers he was retired and had labored in insolvency, was arrested in Could 2024 and charged beneath the Nationwide Safety Act.

Carrying a darkish swimsuit and tie, he silently shook his head within the dock because the jury gave its unanimous verdict after 4 hours and 4 minutes of deliberation. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb remanded Phillips in custody and adjourned sentencing to the “earliest obtainable date” within the autumn.

Chatting with the Guardian, Shapps mentioned: “Past the menace to my family, aiding a international adversary undermines our nationwide safety and endangers those that serve, in addition to the broader public.

“Serving in roles like defence secretary signifies that confronting hostile states equivalent to Russia goes with the territory. However the added menace of somebody from inside the area people in search of to help our adversaries is each harmful and improper.

“At the moment’s verdict makes clear: in case you collude with a hostile energy, and thereby endanger British lives, you’ll face justice.”

Phillips was struggling financially and within the means of making use of for a job at UK Border Pressure when he was approached by the undercover officers. He had written to the Russian embassy providing his companies.

In March 2024, whereas the job software was stay and pre-employment checks had been being carried out, Phillips exchanged emails with the undercover officers, believing them to be Russian intelligence officers.

Sasha and Dima communicated with Phillips over WhatsApp however the defendant wouldn’t reveal what he needed to supply except they met in particular person, the jury heard.

Phillips agreed to supply a doc on a USB stick explaining what he might supply them by putting it within the uncovered seat shaft of a bicycle that was positioned on a nook of Polygon Street within the St Pancras and Euston space of London.

He had typed a quick passage outlining what he might present. It learn: “If a international energy had somebody on the surface, completely hidden, fully secret, who strikes simply in society, anyplace on any degree and may fully mix in as an upstanding citizen regionally or vacationer in any worldwide location, that might show invaluable to a international entity in guaranteeing discretion of motion.

“Then add to {that a} legitimate authorities safety vetting move. Such an individual can transfer beneath the radar, allaying all suspicion they’ll transfer undetected and journey anyplace at anytime, no questions requested, they merely keep away from suspicion.

“Now think about that this particular person can act regionally at quick discover to facilitate the gathering of an operative from any port of entry, present them with secure harbour, journey, help and return them to a delegated place of embarkation undetected, no questions requested by anybody, however establishing firms and procuring belongings; that should be invaluable.”

On 26 April 2024, Phillips met the undercover officers at a London Bridge lodge the place he revealed his actual title and advised them he was capable of present logistical assist and would quickly have a safety clearance by way of the House Workplace.

In Could, the undercover officers met Phillips at a Costa Espresso in West Thurrock the place he advised them he might present them with private particulars for Shapps. He was given a process by the faux Russian brokers to ebook a lodge in London, purchase a cell phone and arrange the cellphone with a faux e-mail handle to facilitate a “delicate assembly” for a senior officer within the Russian intelligence service, the court docket was advised.

The defendant was supplied with £500 in money to assist cowl his outlay for the cellphone and the lodge reserving and he booked the lodge later that night. On 16 Could 2024, Phillips met Sasha and handed over the cellphone in addition to a USB stick containing Shapps’s particulars.

After receiving additional directions to fulfill a person referred to as Nikolai Anatolevich Yakovlev at a close-by cafe, he took an envelope containing £1,000 in money. Later that day, plainclothes officers entered the espresso store and arrested Phillips.

In court docket, he claimed he had been trying to “expose” Russian brokers and had hoped to move details about the Russian spies to Israel, as he believed this could “profit” the state. He had additionally despatched letters to the Iranian and Chinese language embassies in March 2024.

When requested about his view of the UK, he mentioned: “I like the UK … I might by no means do something deliberate which might have the potential to hurt this nation – not ever.”

Phillips mentioned he had met Shapps on 4 events previously, after they met at Potters Bar synagogue in Hertfordshire. He mentioned he had “socialised” with Shapps within the then MP’s home after an “invitation to dinner and in addition to a gathering”.

The defendant’s ex-wife, Amanda Phillips, advised the court docket in the course of the trial that he “would dream about being like James Bond”, and that he watched movies to do with MI5 and MI6 as he was “infatuated with it”.

Prosecutors mentioned his conviction served as a warning to others contemplating doing the identical.

Bethan David, the pinnacle of the Crown Prosecution Service’s counter-terrorism division, mentioned: “Howard Phillips clearly outlined the companies he was keen to supply for a hostile state. From gaining employment throughout the civil service and making use of for safety clearance, to offering the non-public particulars of the secretary of state for defence – Phillips was brazen in his pursuit for monetary acquire and unbothered concerning the potential detriment to his personal nation.”