A British man who volunteered to spy for Russia after his savings dwindled has been sentenced to seven years in prison following an elaborate undercover operation by MI5.
The Sting Operation
Howard Phillips, a 65-year-old from Harlow in Essex, was caught in a sophisticated MI5 sting where he offered to provide logistical support to Russian intelligence agents. The former city worker, who described himself as dreaming of being like James Bond, handed over the home address and landline number of then Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to undercover officers posing as Russian agents.
Phillips was found guilty in July of assisting what he believed to be Russian intelligence service agents, breaching the National Security Act. His arrest came after he was filmed meeting with two MI5 agents, who used Russian accents and called themselves 'Sasha' and 'Dima', at the London Bridge Hotel on 26 April last year.
Financial Desperation and Espionage Dreams
Winchester Crown Court heard that Phillips was motivated by financial desperation rather than ideological beliefs. Justice Cheema-Grubb told him during sentencing: "You were prepared to betray your country for money. I sentence you on the basis you are not ideologically driven but motivated by money."
Phillips had seen his financial situation deteriorate dramatically, with his bank balance falling from £25,126.09 in April 2023 to just £374.48 by May 2024. His ex-wife, Amanda, told the court he had become "infatuated" with spy books and films and had "over the top dreams" about "serving this country somewhere and being James Bond."
Breach of Trust and National Security
In a victim impact statement, Sir Grant Shapps expressed his outrage at Phillips's actions, stating he had welcomed him into his home after moving to the area in 2002. "I feel it has been a complete breach of trust by Mr Phillips," Sir Grant said. "He chose to take whatever information he had and attempted to sell it to a foreign intelligence service thereby, wantonly, putting myself, my family and ultimately the country at risk."
The court heard that Phillips had initially offered his services to the Russians in a letter intercepted by MI5. He later used WhatsApp to masquerade as a British citizen called David Marshall, boasting of having "connections in high places" and offering information of "utmost benefit."
Phillips was eventually arrested by plain-clothed officers at a coffee shop near King's Cross railway station on 16 May. The judge noted that through the deliberate work of the security services, Phillips was caught before providing material assistance to a foreign intelligence service, averting potential danger to national security.
