During a meeting, Phillips used a code word 'mother' instead of 'Moscow' and expressed hopes for recognition from the agents for his efforts, believing he was helping a foreign power.

The head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s counter-terrorism division emphasized that Phillips’ case serves as a warning against espionage, stressing the UK’s commitment to prosecuting such threats.

Phillips, who had previously applied to MI5 and the UK Border Force, was arrested on May 16, 2024, at a London coffee shop during a meeting with the undercover officers.

He handed over a USB stick containing Shapps’ details in exchange for £1,000, believing spying would be 'easy work for easy money' due to his financial struggles.

He made a written pledge of '100 per cent loyalty' and claimed to have security clearances that would allow him to operate unnoticed, motivated primarily by financial difficulties after retirement.

The court heard that Phillips had long dreamed of being like James Bond and sought opportunities in espionage, describing himself as 'semi-retired with connections in high places'.

He is currently remanded in custody and will be sentenced in the autumn of 2025, with a pre-sentence report ordered due to the seriousness of the offense.

Howard Phillips, 65, was found guilty of aiding a foreign intelligence service by sharing sensitive information about former defense secretary Grant Shapps with undercover agents he believed to be Russian.

The jury reached a unanimous verdict after just four hours of deliberation at Winchester Crown Court on July 22, 2025, following a two-week trial.

Phillips had been communicating with the undercover agents, who were actually British intelligence officers, from late 2023 until May 2024, offering to provide information and logistical support for money.

He exchanged emails and arranged meetings with the agents, discussing potential assistance, and even handed over a USB drive containing Shapps’ personal details, including his home address and private plane location.

Following his conviction, Phillips expressed disbelief as he was led away, while prosecutors highlighted the threat his actions posed to UK national security.