An Essex man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after attempting to offer himself as a spy to the Russian Intelligence Service, following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London.
Howard Phillips, 66, from Harlow, was arrested in May 2024 after meeting with undercover officers he believed were Russian agents. During a series of meetings and online exchanges, he offered to share personal information about a former cabinet minister and to provide logistical support for Russian intelligence activities.
Phillips was convicted under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023 after a two-week trial at Winchester Crown Court. He was sentenced on 6 November 2025.
According to investigators, Phillips had told the undercover officers that he could “move undetected and travel anywhere at any time, no questions asked.” He also claimed to have applied for a job at UK Border Force and was seeking Home Office security clearance.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the case showed the consequences of attempting to act on behalf of a hostile state. “This case demonstrates the serious consequences for anyone who thinks working on behalf of the Russian intelligence service is a way of earning easy money,” he said. “Those convicted under the National Security Act can expect to receive lengthy prison sentences.”
The court heard that Phillips had previously met the then-Secretary of State for Defence, who was his local MP, and had visited the minister’s home. When he was arrested in central London, he was carrying a USB stick containing details of the minister and notes on how he believed he could assist Russian intelligence.
Prosecutors said Phillips’s actions were motivated by greed rather than ideology. The case follows the convictions of Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves earlier this year, both prosecuted under the same legislation.
Murphy added that such individuals “are unlikely to receive a large cash windfall” but instead risk losing their freedom.
I do wonder why so many right-wingers/nativists obsess about muslims being a security risk but ignore the same threat from white people. This traitor is in the same odious lineage as Philby, Burgess etc etc. who have done so much to give aid to our enemies.
Same goes for paedophile groups where only Muslim ones appear to be worthy of (never-ending) opprobrium and there’s tumbleweed when it comes to the many, many disgusting white men and women who do the same thing (of which the vile Glasgow gang that was sentence back in January 2025 is but one example).
Strange, I am sure someone can explain these right-wingers’/nativists’ perplexingly one-sided view of things. Can anyone explain why they appear to be more threatened by Muslims than white people in these circumstances?
I thought that the authorities were worried about being called racist when dealing with non white groups and that was the issue is certain towns. Dealing with white british people was not a problem.
If money was this guys motivation as seems to be suggested then I think that is a world apart from the motivations of Philby, Burgess & Maclean.
In my view someone who betrays their country for few quid is the lowest of the low.
“This traitor is in the same odious lineage as Philby, Burgess etc etc. who have done so much to give aid to our enemies.”
Those people had access to high grade information this guy was a fantasist – there is a big difference!
I’m unconvinced that he was a real security threat that justified the expense of this trail/treatment/prison term. Strikes me as a lack of proportionality.
Why do u think people ignore white people who also spy because I don’t know anyone that doesn’t see it as also wrong so your whole premise is incorrect both are wrong but interesting that u brand it right wing when infact the left seem more likely to be the ones who would give information to our enemy’s
Why were counter terrorism police running this case + this is an espionage case not terrorism? Has the MET only got one section….
Self aggrandisement and money.
Plod like lots of ‘terrorism’ cases as it justifies large budgets to deal with the ‘threats’. Enables empire building as well.
This will be added to the terrorism ‘statistics’ to big them up.
It is quite a pathetic and transparent routine TBH and I am surprised politicians let them get away with it. But terrorism, like wars used to be, is useful for distracting the population from the utter ineptitude of our political classes!
Obviously just naive and frankly a bit thick. Did he seriously think he’d be of any use to “Moscow Central”? Karla would laugh and tell him to go away.
If we include accepting money from oligarchs or the Chinese equivalent most of the people in the housed of parliament should be under investigation as well.
Then if we include the repeated down grading of the UKs armed forces and its ability to wage war we should be charging every defence minister and prim minster’s with treason of for the last 30 odd years. Then we come to the 100’s of Civil servants who seem to think that by putting the UK down they are doing right. We seem happy to put away a Walter Mittie who has diddly squat to give to the Russians but extremely reluctant to prosecute the real traitors.
I wonder if he sometimes calls himself John and claims to live in Milton Keynes…….?