US Politics | Security guard admits spying for Russia and handing over secrets to evil Putin while working at British embassy
A SECURITY guard has admitted spying for Russia and handing over secrets to Putin while working at the British embassy in Berlin. Brit David Ballantyne Smith, 58, is said to have been driven by an intense hatred for his own country and wanted to live in Russia or Ukraine when he passed on top secret information from May 2020. 
David Ballantyne Smith admitted spying for Russia and handing over secrets to PutinPA 
Julia QuenzlerSmith also appeared via video link at the Old Bailey back in April '/ ' The security guard was working at the British Embassy in Berlin when he was arrested by German cops on August 10 last year. He was extradited back to the UK in April this year after being charged with nine offences under the Official Secrets Act. The Brit previously denied all the charges when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in April. Prosecutors alleged he had wanted to hurt the UK and the British Embassy where he had worked for eight years. Read More in News 
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CHARGED UP Fears deranged Putin will unleash Bond villain-style EMP to cripple Ukraine He was also said to have been angered at the flying of the Rainbow flag in support of the LGBTQ+ community. On his bookshelf were volumes on history and a novel by the late John le Carre, who is best known for his Cold War spy thrillers. At a plea hearing at the Old Bailey, Smith, now of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act by committing an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. The extent of Smith's activities were set out in the charges laid against him. Most read in US News 'IT'S SURREAL' Delphi victim's mom feels sick 'killer' hid in plain sight & blasts cops IN THE WIRES Secret chats of brothers who 'killed 8 people in same family' played at trial 'I APOLOGIZE' Leaked emails reveal diver's excuse for 'child rape' & patronizing jibes WILD WEATHER Hurricane Nicole batters Florida leaving five dead and 'sharks' in the streets FINAL REPRIEVE Serena Williams' crumbling childhood home is saved in shock ruling AT YOUR MERCY Delphi suspect reveals safety fear led to dramatic move by wife in new letter The first count stated that he had communicated with General Major Sergey Chukhurov, the Russian military attache based out of the Russian Embassy in Berlin in 2020. In it, he gave information about the activities, identities, addresses and phone numbers of various British civil servants. He collected intelligence on the operation and layout of the British Embassy in Berlin, which was said to be useful to ...an enemy, namely the Russian state.... Some of the material was classified ...Secret... and related to the activities of the British Government and its German embassy. On August 5 last year, he collected unauthorised photocopies of documents provided by a person known as Dmitry as well as SIM card packaging. And on August 5 and 6 last year, he also collected recordings of CCTV footage of Dmitry which was said to be ...useful to an enemy, namely the Russian State.... Smith had left work early complaining he was feeling ill on the day of his arrest, only to be met by German police on arrival in Potsdam. An examination of his electronic devices revealed footage from the embassy and a draft letter to a Russian military attache dated May 14 2020. In it, he confirmed he worked at the embassy and wanted anonymity as he offered a book classified as ...official sensitive.... There were pictures of staff security passes and personal information, ...secret... classified emails and documents, posters and whiteboards in the embassy. Following a probe by British counter-terrorism police, a request was made for his extradition in November last year and he was brought back to the UK in April. As well as the discovery of cash at Smith's house, he had expressed hatred of the UK and Germany and sympathy with the Russian authorities, the prosecution alleged. Smith's guilty pleas last week can only now be reported since the Crown indicated it would not seek a trial on a ninth count, that the defendant had denied. His lawyer Matthew Ryder KC told the court that Smith's basis of plea differed from the prosecution case. He told the court: ...There is a very large difference between the Crown and Mr Smith about his motivation. ...His intention and why he did what he did and the seriousness of the allegations are disputed by Mr Smith. ...It is right to say there is significant difference as to the basis Mr Smith has pleaded guilty including him not having a negative intention towards the UK that the prosecution have alleged against him.... Read More on The Sun 
SEAT-UATION Woman slams boyfriend for boarding flight without her - but people are divided It is understood that Smith cast himself as a disgruntled employee rather than a spy and never intended his actions would help Russia. He faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for spying. In 2020, former defence worker Simon Finch, 52, from Southport, admitted disclosing ...damaging... top secret details of a UK missile system and is currently serving an eight-year jail term. 
Prosecutors alleged Smith wanted to hurt the UK and the British Embassy where he had worked for eight years 
AlamySmith handed over top secret information to Vladimir Putin '/ '
David Ballantyne Smith admitted spying for Russia and handing over secrets to PutinPA Julia QuenzlerSmith also appeared via video link at the Old Bailey back in April '/ ' The security guard was working at the British Embassy in Berlin when he was arrested by German cops on August 10 last year. He was extradited back to the UK in April this year after being charged with nine offences under the Official Secrets Act. The Brit previously denied all the charges when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in April. Prosecutors alleged he had wanted to hurt the UK and the British Embassy where he had worked for eight years. Read More in News PUTIN'S FAILURE Humiliated tyrant distancing himself from war 'failure' as Russia retreats CHARGED UP Fears deranged Putin will unleash Bond villain-style EMP to cripple Ukraine He was also said to have been angered at the flying of the Rainbow flag in support of the LGBTQ+ community. On his bookshelf were volumes on history and a novel by the late John le Carre, who is best known for his Cold War spy thrillers. At a plea hearing at the Old Bailey, Smith, now of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act by committing an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. The extent of Smith's activities were set out in the charges laid against him. Most read in US News 'IT'S SURREAL' Delphi victim's mom feels sick 'killer' hid in plain sight & blasts cops IN THE WIRES Secret chats of brothers who 'killed 8 people in same family' played at trial 'I APOLOGIZE' Leaked emails reveal diver's excuse for 'child rape' & patronizing jibes WILD WEATHER Hurricane Nicole batters Florida leaving five dead and 'sharks' in the streets FINAL REPRIEVE Serena Williams' crumbling childhood home is saved in shock ruling AT YOUR MERCY Delphi suspect reveals safety fear led to dramatic move by wife in new letter The first count stated that he had communicated with General Major Sergey Chukhurov, the Russian military attache based out of the Russian Embassy in Berlin in 2020. In it, he gave information about the activities, identities, addresses and phone numbers of various British civil servants. He collected intelligence on the operation and layout of the British Embassy in Berlin, which was said to be useful to ...an enemy, namely the Russian state.... Some of the material was classified ...Secret... and related to the activities of the British Government and its German embassy. On August 5 last year, he collected unauthorised photocopies of documents provided by a person known as Dmitry as well as SIM card packaging. And on August 5 and 6 last year, he also collected recordings of CCTV footage of Dmitry which was said to be ...useful to an enemy, namely the Russian State.... Smith had left work early complaining he was feeling ill on the day of his arrest, only to be met by German police on arrival in Potsdam. An examination of his electronic devices revealed footage from the embassy and a draft letter to a Russian military attache dated May 14 2020. In it, he confirmed he worked at the embassy and wanted anonymity as he offered a book classified as ...official sensitive.... There were pictures of staff security passes and personal information, ...secret... classified emails and documents, posters and whiteboards in the embassy. Following a probe by British counter-terrorism police, a request was made for his extradition in November last year and he was brought back to the UK in April. As well as the discovery of cash at Smith's house, he had expressed hatred of the UK and Germany and sympathy with the Russian authorities, the prosecution alleged. Smith's guilty pleas last week can only now be reported since the Crown indicated it would not seek a trial on a ninth count, that the defendant had denied. His lawyer Matthew Ryder KC told the court that Smith's basis of plea differed from the prosecution case. He told the court: ...There is a very large difference between the Crown and Mr Smith about his motivation. ...His intention and why he did what he did and the seriousness of the allegations are disputed by Mr Smith. ...It is right to say there is significant difference as to the basis Mr Smith has pleaded guilty including him not having a negative intention towards the UK that the prosecution have alleged against him.... Read More on The Sun SEAT-UATION Woman slams boyfriend for boarding flight without her - but people are divided It is understood that Smith cast himself as a disgruntled employee rather than a spy and never intended his actions would help Russia. He faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for spying. In 2020, former defence worker Simon Finch, 52, from Southport, admitted disclosing ...damaging... top secret details of a UK missile system and is currently serving an eight-year jail term. Prosecutors alleged Smith wanted to hurt the UK and the British Embassy where he had worked for eight years AlamySmith handed over top secret information to Vladimir Putin '/ '
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