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UK Man Sentenced for Leaking Defense Secretary's Info

11/8/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Howard Phillips, 66, was sentenced to seven years in prison for giving personal details of UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to undercover officers he believed were Russian agents.
He handed over a USB stick containing Shapps’s home address.
Phillips said he intended to expose Russian spies and benefit Israel.
The judge noted Phillips acted out of financial desperation.

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Story summary

Howard Phillips, 66, was sentenced to seven years in prison for giving personal details of UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to undercover officers he believed were Russian agents.
He handed over a USB stick containing Shapps’s home address.
Phillips said he intended to expose Russian spies and benefit Israel.
The judge noted Phillips acted out of financial desperation.