Berlin embassy spy denies existence of Russian handler

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An ex-security guard at the British Embassy in Berlin has admitted handing classified documents to Russia, but refused to name his alleged spymaster, saying: “There is no-one.” David Ballantyne Smith amassed a stash of secret and sensitive material over four years before he was caught in 2021. I was glad I didn’t put anything else in the envelope.” Smith’s first letter, dated May 2020, was compiled using Google translate and a contact gleaned from the Russian Embassy website, he said. The second role player purported to be a Russian intelligence officer called Irina who accosted Smith at a tram stop to ask him about Dmitry making “damaging” disclosures a few days later. On watching covert video of himself filming Dmitry, Smith said: “When I looked at those videos I thought what an arsehole because I realised what an idiot I had been.” He told the court he knew immediately that Irina was not a Russian intelligence officer, as she claimed.