Nearly £1m cost of Berlin spy that left embassy staff ‘concerned’ for safety

The damage David Smith caused by collecting secrets from his work and passing an unknown quantity to Russian intelligence was laid bare in court.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of David Smith at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in April (Elizabeth Cook/PA) (PA Archive)

Berlin spy David Smith’s leaks to Russian intelligence cost nearly £1 million and left staff at the British embassy in Germany “concerned” over their safety.

The damage the 58-year-old security guard caused by collecting secrets from his work over four years and passing an unknown quantity to the hostile state was laid bare at the Old Bailey by prosecutor Alison Morgan KC.

The court was told the only reason Smith did not leave the job he hated was so he could carry on his spying activities.

The embassy’s head of security Bharat Joshi estimated the cost to the taxpayer of security measures at £820,000.

The consequences of that document being provided were potentially catastrophic

Neil Keeping, National Crime Agency

On the human cost, he said: “The breach of trust, in particular disclosure of people’s personal information, has had a negative impact on staff morale and wellbeing.”

A security review had to be carried out for every member of staff.

Mr Joshi said: “They had to inform the individuals identified in this material that they must work on the assumption their personal details had been passed on and the staff have had to manage that.

“This had a significant and negative impact on many embassy staff, as described, feelings of anger, betrayal and upset and concern at the implications of their details being shared with a hostile state actor.”

Neil Keeping, from the National Crime Agency, told of the “severe” impact if the details on a whiteboard filmed by Smith had become known.

And he said there were “potentially catastrophic” consequences for disclosure of staff details linked to their “key numbers” and addresses.

He said: “It put at risk each and every UK officer based in Berlin from any kind of attack.

“The consequences of that document being provided were potentially catastrophic.”

Amanda Brooks, director general for trade negotiations, highlighted the possible impact on Britain if its strategy and “red lines” were known by an enemy state.

An MI5 representative, identified as 2093, put Smith’s spying in the context of relations with Russia at the time.

The officer stated: “At the time the UK was engaged in the calling out of various activity undertaken by Russia, including significant concerns at the amassing of military personnel and the activity taking place on the border of Ukraine.”

There was also “concern” among UK authorities at the treatment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

There was a “significant impact” and the risks could not “be sensibly described as theoretical”, according to 2093.

Reference was also made to poisoned Russian defector Alexander Litvinenko and the consequences of information being made available to Russian authorities.

Smith, who is originally from Paisley in Scotland, has admitted eight charges under the Official Secrets Act.

He expressed remorse for what he had done, saying he felt “shamed” as he apologised to colleagues.

However, Mr Justice Wall observed his account on the impact on him, his Ukrainian wife and grown-up daughter, who had lost her job as a result of his conviction, were more akin to self-pity.

The former RAF serviceman was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday to  13 years and two months.