A security guard at the British embassy in Berlin faces 14 years in prison after he volunteered to spy for Russia and leak state secrets about his intense hatred of Britain.
David Ballantyne Smith, 58, would have liked that who was living in Russia or Ukraine when he leaked top secret intelligence to Moscow starting in May 2020.
After Smith’s arrest, it was revealed that he had been a spy for 15 months before he was caught by the intelligence agencies while conducting an undercover operation.
He flouted British values and was angered by the raising of the rainbow LGBT+ flag at the embassy where he served for eight years, prosecutors said.
The 58-year-old, originally from Paisley, Scotland, now faces up to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act.
Although he lived beyond his means, 800 euros in cash were found in his house in Potsdam when he was arrested last August.
Photos from his living room showed Russian memorabilia, including a flag.
On his bookshelf were history books and a novel by the late John le Carre, best known for his Cold War spy thrillers.
During a hearing at the Old Bailey, Smith, who is now of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act of committing an act prejudicial to the security or interests of the state.
David Ballantyne Smith (58) reportedly wanted to live in Russia or Ukraine when he handed over intelligence agencies to Moscow from May 2020
David Ballantyne Smith (58) (pictured in this court sketch at the Old Bailey) pleaded guilty to spying for Russia
David Ballantyne Smith (58) is said to be driven by an intense hatred for his own country and wants to live in Russia or Ukraine when he handed over top secret services to Moscow from May 2020.
The extent of Smith’s activities was detailed in the charges against him.
Smith communicated with Major General Sergey Chukhurov, the military attaché at the Russian Embassy in Berlin, in 2020.
He is said to have passed on a letter containing sensitive information about the activities, identities, addresses and telephone numbers of various British officials.
It was mailed from Smith’s nearby address, and analysis of the handwriting indicated that it was likely he had written the envelope himself.
He gathered information about the operation and organization of the British embassy in Berlin that would be useful “to an enemy, namely the Russian state”.
Some of the material was classified as “secret” and related to the activities of the British government and its German embassy.
Smith had Russian military memorabilia, including a Russian flag and a uniform cap
On August 5 last year, he collected unauthorized photocopies of documents provided by a person named Dmitry, as well as the SIM card packaging.
On August 5-6 last year, he also collected CCTV footage of Dmitri that “would be useful to an enemy, namely the Russian state.”
On the day of his arrest on suspicion of spying for Russia, Smith left work early feeling ill, but was picked up by German police upon his arrival in Potsdam.
A search of his electronics revealed images of the embassy and a draft letter to a Russian military attaché dated May 14, 2020.
In it he confirmed that he works at the embassy and wished anonymity as he was presenting a book classified as “officially sensitive”.
There were photos of security badges and personal data, “secret” classified emails and documents, posters and whiteboards in the embassy.
Footage he filmed on equipment at his home was found, as well as a letter to former military attaché Colonel Sivov, in which Smith said he could provide sensitive information that the colonel “might use.”
Police also found videos of a walk through the embassy building, photos of organizational charts and notes about staff.
After investigations by British counter-terrorism police, an extradition request was made against him in November last year and he was brought back to the UK in April.
In addition to the cash found at Smith’s home, he expressed hatred of Britain and Germany and sympathy for Russian authorities, prosecutors alleged.
There was an amazing treasure trove of Soviet memorabilia at his home, revealing where his true loyalties may lie and raising serious investigative questions for the State Department.
For example, the battered 17-year-old silver Ford Fiesta parked in front of his apartment bore registration number RU1801: the first two letters of “Russia” followed by the year Alexander I became Tsar.
In the living room of his $800 ground-floor apartment hung a giant Russian flag, an old badge with a Russian naval crest on the wall, a life-size toy Rottweiler wearing a Russian hat, a bookshelf with titles in Russian Cyrillic, and a Soviet. military cap.
Several philosophical books in Russian were supported by a white model Trabant, the Soviet-era state-produced car.
And the former RAF junior pilot’s social media was littered with pictures of himself in pro-Russian garb alongside anti-NATO and anti-Western posts.
In one incredible image, Smith poses next to a Russian tank wearing a t-shirt with the Russian flag on it. Smith was extradited to Britain in April. He now faces further trials and convictions in February.
Smith was arrested by German police at his home in Potsdam on August 10
Smith’s objections last week can only be reported now that the Crown has said it will not seek a trial on a ninth charge, which the defendant has denied.
His lawyer, Matthew Ryder KC, told the court Smith’s plea was different from the charges.
He told the court: “There is a very big difference between the Crown and Mr Smith in terms of his motivations.
His intent and why he did what he did and the seriousness of the allegations are disputed by Mr Smith.
“It is correct to say that there is a significant difference in relation to the basis on which Mr Smith pleaded guilty, including the fact that he has no negative intentions towards the UK that prosecutors have alleged against him.”
It is clear that Smith portrayed himself as a disgruntled employee rather than a spy and that his actions were never aimed at helping Russia.
Smith faces a maximum sentence of 14 years for espionage.
In 2020, former Southport defense officer Simon Finch, 52, admitted leaking “damaging” top secret details of a British missile system and is currently serving an eight-year sentence.
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