Essex man charged with spying for Moscow accused of ‘passing on MP’s personal details’
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An Essex man charged with spying for Russia is accused of passing on an MP’s personal details to Putin’s foreign intelligence service.
Howard Michael Phillips, an unemployed man from Harlow, was charged at Westminster magistrates’ court on Thursday with assisting Russia’s foreign intelligence service contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act.
The court heard that Phillips, 64, is charged with “acquiring and retaining personal contact details of a Member of Parliament” and “disclosing personal contact details and information relating to a Member of Parliament to a foreign intelligence service”.
He is also accused of applying for jobs with the Home Office’s Border Force Agency and applying for security clearance.
Phillips allegedly offered to provide logistical support to a foreign intelligence service, including booking a hotel and buying a mobile phone on behalf of a foreign intelligence service, as well as setting up a mobile phone “so that it was available to be used by a foreign intelligence service”.
In court Phillips, wearing a grey tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his address and date of birth.
Judge Daniel Sternberg denied Phillips bail and ordered him to appear at the Old Bailey on June 14.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “On May 16, a 64-year-old man was arrested in central London. He was arrested and detained under section 27 of the National Security Act (NSA), 2023.
“A warrant of further detention was obtained at Westminster magistrates’ court meaning he could be detained up until May 23 and following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the CPS authorised the charge as above.”
“The arrest is not connected to any other recent charges or investigations linked to NSA offences, and there is not believed to be any threat to the wider public in connection with this matter.”
As part of the investigation, which is being led by officers from the Met Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, officers also searched an address in the Hertfordshire area and an address in the Essex area.
