British man convicted of attempting to spy for Russian agents, who were actually British officers.

A 65-year-old British man, Howard Phillips, was convicted of trying to spy for what he thought were Russian intelligence agents. In reality, the agents were undercover British officers. Phillips, from Harlow, Essex, aimed to provide personal information about former UK Defense Secretary Sir Grant Shapps and assist with travel logistics. The jury found him guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act after a two-week trial. His ex-wife testified that he was infatuated with MI5 and MI6. This conviction highlights the UK's commitment to combating espionage activities.