Ex-guard of British Embassy in Berlin sentenced to 13 years in prison for spying for Russia

Former guard of the British Embassy in Germany David Smith has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for espionage for Russia, Reuters reports.

The man, 58, has been found guilty of handing over information about embassy staffers and additional data on activities of British diplomats to Russian officials and secret services.

The BBC reports that judge Mark Wall said that he would not decide where Smith would serve his sentence. The location will determine the minimal prison term. Back home in the UK, Smith can expect to be released ahead of the end of his sentence.

The court found that Smith was collecting confidential information for more than 3 years. Judge Wall said that the man was guided by pro-Russian views.

The exposure operation was carried out after Smith sent a letter in November 2020 to Russia’s military attache in Berlin Sergey Chukhrov that contained confidential information about British Embassy staffers in Berlin.

An MI5 agent first disguised himself as a Russian called Dmitry who allegedly cooperated with the UK authorities to check whether the guard would track him. Later, a woman named “Irina” approached the British national, asking him to help because someone “gave information to the British that can cause damage to Russia”. Smith responded by saying that he needed time to seek guidance and then he would be ready to meet her again.

Smith was arrested the next day after meeting “Irina” in August 2021. When his Potsdam home was searched, officers found a USB drive with photos of several embassy staffers and diplomatic passports.

“Russia paid you for your treachery,” the judge said when delivering the verdict, Bloomberg reports.

According to the news agency, the prosecution said that a Russian flag, Soviet military hat, Nazi uniform, and around $854,000 in cash were found in Smith’s home.