By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - A British man was convicted Tuesday under the National Security Act after attempting to offer his services to the Russian Intelligence Service, following a covert investigation by London's Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.
Howard Phillips, 65, from Harlow, Essex in southeast England, was found guilty following a two-week trial at Winchester Crown Court of attempting to support Russian espionage operations.
The court heard he offered personal information about a former UK government minister and expressed a willingness to provide logistical help to Russian agents.
Phillips was arrested in central London on May 16, 2024, after travelling there to meet two individuals he believed were Russian agents. In fact, they were undercover officers.
“Phillips was unemployed and his primary motivation for wanting to become a spy for the Russian Intelligence Service was financial reward,” said Det. Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan, head of operations for the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
The court was told Phillips communicated with the officers via WhatsApp, describing himself as "semi-retired but with connections in high places," before meeting them in person in London and at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex on May 9, 2024.
Prosecutors said Phillips applied for a job with the UK Border Force in October 2023 and was pursuing Home Office security clearance as part of a broader plan to aid Russia.
During the investigation, officers found Phillips had provided personal information about former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.
He previously met Shapps and visited his home, as the politician was his local member of parliament.
Phillips also handed officers a USB stick containing a document in which he claimed he could “move undetected and travel anywhere at any time, no questions asked” and “avoid suspicion.”
His former wife, Amanda Phillips, told the court he "would dream about being like James Bond" and was "infatuated with it," frequently watching films related to British intelligence services MI5 and MI6.
Flanagan added: “His conviction should act as stark warning to anyone who thinks that carrying out illegal activity on behalf of a foreign state is an attractive or easy way to earn money.
“The reality is that we take this kind of activity extremely seriously. Those involved will be identified, investigated and, like Phillips, will face extremely serious consequences when they are convicted.”
Sentencing will take place at a later date.