A security guard at the British Embassy in Berlin has pleaded guilty to eight charges of spying for Russia.
David Ballantyne Smith, 58, entered pleas of guilty last week to eight counts of breaching the Official Secrets Act by “committing an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state,” but it could only be reported on Friday after the Crown decided not to proceed with a ninth count which Smith denied.
The Old Bailey heard Smith began passing on secret intelligence from May 2020 and was motivated by hatred for Britain and Germany and sympathy with Russia.
The prosecution said Smith, who had worked at the embassy for eight years, wanted to hurt Britain and had been angered when the embassy flew a rainbow flag in support of the LGBT+ community….