Retired insolvency worker Howard Phillips, who once aspired to be like James Bond, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for attempting to spy for Russia. Phillips, described as a ‘fantasist’ by his lawyer, offered personal information about former Defence Secretary Sir Grant Shapps to what he believed were Russian intelligence agents named “Sasha” and “Dima.”
However, these supposed Russian agents were actually undercover British intelligence officers. Phillips was found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act. During sentencing at Winchester Crown Court, Judge Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb criticized Phillips for being motivated by money and betraying his country.
The court heard that Phillips, from Harlow, Essex, intended to aid the Russian agents from late 2023 to May of the following year. He offered to provide Sir Grant’s contact details and the location of his private plane to facilitate espionage activities. In a victim impact statement, Sir Grant expressed shock and concern for his family’s safety due to Phillips’ actions.
Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward revealed that Phillips was driven by financial motives and offered his loyalty to the supposed Russian agents. Phillips’ defense attorney, Jeremy Dein, characterized his client’s behavior as a result of a monumental error in judgment driven by a collapsed personal life. Phillips himself claimed his actions were part of a role-playing scenario to test the undercover agents’ true identities.
Commander Dominic Murphy of Counter Terrorism Policing London emphasized the severity of working for foreign intelligence services, while Security Minister Dan Jarvis reaffirmed that national security is non-negotiable and individuals attempting to undermine it will face consequences.
Phillips’ ex-wife mentioned his fascination with spy films and desire to be like James Bond. Phillips had previously contacted the Russian embassy in an attempt to assist Israel in exposing Russian agents, claiming he was aware of the undercover nature of the individuals he interacted with.
Overall, the case underscores the gravity of betraying one’s country for personal gain and the vigilance required to safeguard national security against such threats.
