A 65-year-old British man, Howard Phillips, was convicted on Tuesday for attempting to pass sensitive information to individuals he believed were Russian intelligence agents. In reality, the two men were undercover British intelligence officers. Phillips, who reportedly fantasized about being like fictional spy James Bond, had aimed to assist what he thought was a foreign intelligence agency.
The jury at Winchester Crown Court returned a unanimous verdict, finding Phillips guilty of espionage-related charges. Deliberations lasted approximately four hours. Phillips has been remanded into custody, with sentencing scheduled for the fall. A specific date for sentencing has not yet been set.
According to the prosecution, Phillips sought to provide the supposed Russian agents with information about former U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps. The details included Shapps’ contact information and the location of his private aircraft. Prosecutors stated that Phillips intended this intelligence to assist Russian operatives in gaining access to British defense plans.
In court, Phillips’ ex-wife testified that he had long fantasized about becoming like James Bond. She described his obsession with the British secret services and his frequent viewing of espionage-related films, calling him “infatuated” with the world of intelligence.
Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s counterterrorism division, remarked on the significance of the case. She stated that the verdict should serve as a strong warning to anyone considering espionage for a hostile foreign power. David noted that Phillips acted “brazenly” in his pursuit of financial gain and demonstrated no concern for the potential harm his actions could have caused to his country.
Phillips’ conviction comes at a time of heightened awareness in the U.K. regarding foreign espionage threats, particularly involving Russian intelligence operations.
