Howard Phillips, 66, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for assisting a foreign intelligence service, after attempting to pass sensitive information relating to the then Secretary of State for Defence, Grant Shapps, to individuals he believed to be Russian Intelligence officers.
In sentencing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb observed that the defendant has taken a serious risk with national security.
Mr Phillips was arrested in May 2024 and convicted in July 2025 after a trial for an offence under Section 3 of the National Security Act.
Jocelyn Ledward KC of QEB Hollis Whiteman prosecuted this case alongside Ben Lloyd of 6KBW.
The case has been featured in National Press:
Counter Terrorism Policing have also published a press release.
The Judge’s sentencing remarks can be found here.
Jocelyn Ledward KC