British Submariner Confessed Ties with Russian Intelligence

14.11.2012 Edward Devenney, a submariner of Royal British Navy charged of divulging of state secrets admitted his crime in the court on Nov 13.

He confirmed he had collected secret cryptographic programs and met with people who he thought were Russian intelligence officers, reports BBC.

According to Interfax referring to Associated Press, Devenney also confessed breaking of work ethics rules. The Petty Officer admitted he was discussing information about movements of British nuclear submarines with those people.

Devenney repelled an accusation of transferring information to any other people. British defense ministry considers materials available to Devenney confidential, reported The Daily Telegraph.

In addition, despite the fact that the 30-y.o. Devenney served in a submarine, he was an active Twitter user and frequently posted there sensible information like the UK Prime Minister visiting the submarine or his personal views on internal political events and bombing of Iran.

Expectedly, a sentence upon Devenney would be passed on Dec 12.

Devenney was arrested in 2012 on a charge of transferring secret information that could be helpful for potential enemy either directly or obliquely.

According to evidence submitted to the court by police, Devenney contacted with a London-based embassy in Nov 2012 and offered its officers secret information related to his service.

In Jan 2012, British counter-espionage officers feigned that they were representatives of an undisclosed country. Reportedly, Devenney offered them information regarding nuclear submarines, particularly, electronic systems controlling arms and periscopes.

On Thursday, the court remanded him in custody and rejected bailment. If Devenney is found guilty, he would spend up to 14 years in jail.

British media called Devenney an 'exuberant Tweeter user'. According to The Daily Mail, there are over 5,400 tweets of his account, over 40 a day, dealing with wide range of subjects from possible nuclear attack upon Iran to elections in Russia.