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Crown Court: the gripping courtroom drama from the 1970s and 1980s.
Robert Denton (Raymond Francis), a clerical officer at a weapons research establishment, stands charged with copying a secret document about a missile and then selling the information to the Soviet Union.
A few familiar faces here: Diane Keen (Cuckoo Waltz, ads for Nescafe!), and two alumni from Coronation Street: Joan Heath (May Hardman) and Peter Dudley (Bert Tilsley).
#CrownCourt #Courtroom #Drama #SecurityRisk
Robert Denton (Raymond Francis), a clerical officer at a weapons research establishment, stands charged with copying a secret document about a missile and then selling the information to the Soviet Union.
A few familiar faces here: Diane Keen (Cuckoo Waltz, ads for Nescafe!), and two alumni from Coronation Street: Joan Heath (May Hardman) and Peter Dudley (Bert Tilsley).
#CrownCourt #Courtroom #Drama #SecurityRisk
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TVTranscript
00:00:00Transcription by CastingWords
00:00:30On the evening of Thursday, March the 7th, Robert Stephen Denton, a clerical officer at the Guided Weapons Research Establishment near Fulchester, remained behind to catch up on a backlog of work.
00:00:40At least, that was the reason Denton gave his colleagues.
00:00:43He waited until the night security officer had made his first round, and then removed a file from a security cabinet.
00:00:49The file contained information relating to the radar guidance system of a new surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile.
00:00:55Well, Denton knew there were certain people in London who would be very interested in the technical data he had access to,
00:01:02people who would be prepared to pay him a great deal of money for that information, money that Denton needed urgently.
00:01:09Denton had a day's leave the following day, which he used to visit the Soviet embassy.
00:01:13He emerged, 30 minutes later, after a useful talk with a Soviet official, during which he handed over the document he'd prepared the previous evening.
00:01:24Unknown to Denton, there had been a witness to his activities of the previous evening,
00:01:28a witness which faithfully and accurately recorded everything he copied from the file,
00:01:33a witness whose integrity and reliability would be proved beyond doubt by the prosecution,
00:01:38a witness which could not lie.
00:01:40The electric typewriter used by Denton.
00:01:55Yes, I take your point, Mr. Golding, but I'm sure you will agree
00:01:58there has been enough sensationalism surrounding this business as it is,
00:02:02arising mainly out of the unfortunate statements made to the press by the wife of the accused.
00:02:07Now, to hear this entire proceeding in camera will only aggravate the situation.
00:02:13Surely, not all your evidence from all your witnesses is sensitive?
00:02:17Oh, no, my lord, but in addition, there is a request that the identity of the two special branch officers who made the arrest should not be revealed.
00:02:24Look, I have no wish to prejudice any of the issues in this case,
00:02:28but it must be obvious that we are not dealing with an international spying.
00:02:31I cannot understand why the special branch used officers of such importance that their identity cannot be revealed.
00:02:39Well, I'm in no position to comment on the activities of the special branch, my lord.
00:02:43What?
00:02:45Have you anything to say, Miss Tate?
00:02:47No, my lord, I'm anxious to keep the issues in perspective,
00:02:50and, of course, concerned like anyone else that the court does not go into camera unless absolutely necessary.
00:02:55Very well, Mr. Golding, I will close the court on your application to hear classified evidence,
00:03:01and when the testimony of the special branch officers is to be presented.
00:03:05Now, can you call your witnesses in such an order that the court need only be cleared once?
00:03:10Uh, yes.
00:03:12My lord...
00:03:12We just have to see how we get on, won't we, Miss Tate?
00:03:15And if I take the view that this matter can be dealt with in public,
00:03:18then I shall see that this is done.
00:03:20Thank you, my lord.
00:03:21Miss Veele, you are a civil servant employed as a typist at the Guided Weapons Research Establishment near Fulchester.
00:03:29Yes, sir.
00:03:30Yes, and you work in the technical library under its officer in charge, the accused.
00:03:34Yes, but Mr. Denton's not my real boss.
00:03:37I'm responsible to Miss Stone, at the typing pool supervisor.
00:03:41Ah, yes, but your desk and typewriter are situated in the small office used by the accused,
00:03:45which adjourns the main records area.
00:03:48Oh, yes, but we don't have a proper room for the typing pool.
00:03:50Oh, I see, yes.
00:03:52Now, would you tell the court what happened on the morning of the 8th of March last week?
00:03:57Well, uh, I got to work at the normal time, at 8.30,
00:04:02and, uh, I went to Miss Stone's room to pick up my work basket.
00:04:06I was retyping a revised four-page report for Miss Stone.
00:04:10And I'd finished page three the evening before,
00:04:13and I started typing page four on the Friday.
00:04:16Well, I'd only done about four lines when the carbon ribbon gave out.
00:04:19Uh, by gave out, you mean there was none left?
00:04:21Yes, that's right.
00:04:22Yes.
00:04:22Now, is that the electric typewriter in question, Exhibit One, my lord?
00:04:25Yes.
00:04:27Oh, don't try to lift it. Leave it where it is.
00:04:30Uh, is that your machine, Miss Field?
00:04:32You may leave the witness box to take a closer look, if you wish.
00:04:35Oh, yes, that's my typewriter, sir.
00:04:37My lord, there are one or two features about this machine which I would like to demonstrate to the court.
00:04:41Yes, Mr. Golding?
00:04:42In your lordship's opinion, would Miss Field be considered an expert in the subject of her own typewriter?
00:04:47Well now, Miss Field, for how long have you been using this particular machine?
00:04:51Oh, nearly three years now, sir.
00:04:52You use it all the time?
00:04:54Yes, except for when it's gone in for servicing.
00:04:56Well, I don't think one could get much more expert than that, eh, Miss Tate?
00:05:00No objections, my lord.
00:05:01Yes, Mr. Golding.
00:05:03Thank you, my lord.
00:05:03Would you be so kind?
00:05:06Oh, yes.
00:05:15Now, correct me if I'm wrong, Miss Field, but isn't that a new carbon ribbon?
00:05:20Yes, it is.
00:05:21Yes.
00:05:21And once the carbon ribbon is used, it passes through the machine and is taken up on this spool here?
00:05:25Yes, that's right.
00:05:26Yes.
00:05:27Now, how often can a carbon ribbon be used?
00:05:29Oh, only the once, then it's sent for shredding.
00:05:31Oh, so once the carbon ribbon is passed through the machine, it's useless.
00:05:34Yes, it's got to be destroyed.
00:05:35Yes.
00:05:36Now, I have a typewriter, not a sophisticated little machine like this one, but it uses an
00:05:41ordinary cloth ribbon, which can be used repeatedly until the images are too faint to be read.
00:05:46Now, what's the difference between that sort of ribbon and this?
00:05:49Oh, well, as a carbon ribbon's only used the once, it gives a very clear impression.
00:05:54I mean, with fabric ribbon typing, it's a much more smudged effect, because there's both types on this machine.
00:05:59Ah, so that is the ordinary fabric ribbon?
00:06:02Yes, that's right.
00:06:03Yes.
00:06:03So, presumably, there's a switch somewhere on the machine, so you can select the type of ribbon you want to use?
00:06:08Oh, yes, underneath.
00:06:09Underneath.
00:06:10Oh, underneath on the left.
00:06:11Oh.
00:06:12Underneath.
00:06:13On the left.
00:06:14That's it.
00:06:14Yeah, that's it.
00:06:16Now, how was your typewriter set on the evening of March the 7th?
00:06:21Oh, with the carbon ribbon switched on.
00:06:23Well, that's all right if you know where the switch is.
00:06:25Yes, I wonder if the accused knew where the switch was when he used this machine.
00:06:28My lord, I object most strongly to that kind of remark.
00:06:30Yes, that was pure comment, Mr. Gerling.
00:06:33You should know better.
00:06:34I'm sorry, my lord.
00:06:34I was merely thinking aloud.
00:06:36Well, don't.
00:06:37I shall try not to, my lord.
00:06:39Now, Miss Field, return to this report you were typing.
00:06:42What was your reaction when the carbon ribbon suddenly gave out?
00:06:46Well, I couldn't understand it.
00:06:47I mean, there'd been more than enough to finish the report.
00:06:49And what was the apparent reason for there being insufficient carbon ribbon on that following morning?
00:06:54Well, somebody'd been using me time.
00:06:56The witness is being asked to express her conclusions, not what she discerned.
00:07:00Oh, my lord, I did ask the witness for an apparent reason.
00:07:03Well, now, Miss Tate, presumably there are only two possible reasons for what the witness saw.
00:07:07Either someone had been typing on the machine, or someone had deliberately wound on the reel.
00:07:17Isn't that right, Miss Field?
00:07:18Oh, yes, it is, sir.
00:07:20Yes, now, what was your reaction after your initial surprise?
00:07:24Well, I was upset.
00:07:26Well, why was that?
00:07:27Well, I'd already been told off for using too much carbon ribbon by Miss Stone.
00:07:31Oh, what was her reason?
00:07:32Well, she said it was too expensive.
00:07:34Well, you see, I like using carbon ribbon.
00:07:37I mean, it makes me work look much nicer, you know.
00:07:39Yes, I'm sure it does.
00:07:40Yes.
00:07:42Now, my lord, I would like Miss Field to demonstrate the way in which she left her typewriter on that evening of March 7th.
00:07:47Yes, please do as counsel directs, Miss Field.
00:07:49Would you sit at your typewriter, please, Miss Field?
00:07:51Oh.
00:08:02Well, now, what's the matter?
00:08:09I'm sorry, my lord, but I don't know where the power plug is.
00:08:14I believe there's one beneath your lordship, sir.
00:08:16Oh, yes, there is.
00:08:17What a ridiculous place to put it.
00:08:19It's in case their lordships require a fan heater.
00:08:22Well, you'd better come this way.
00:08:23Give it to me.
00:08:29There.
00:08:32The long arm of the law has its uses.
00:08:37Hey, Mr Golding.
00:08:37Oh, yes.
00:08:39I suppose you knew the lead would be long enough here.
00:08:41Well, that is a leading question, my lord.
00:08:44Uh, now, Miss Field, I would like you to take something for me with the cover off as it is at present.
00:08:49Will that be possible?
00:08:50Oh, yes, sir, but I'll have to put a pencil in that hole, otherwise it switches itself off.
00:08:54Yes, I hope it's safe for the witness to use the machine without the lid.
00:08:57Oh, yes, perfectly.
00:08:58Now, Miss Field, would you switch the typewriter to Carven, Reverend, please?
00:09:04Yes.
00:09:05And now, I would like you to type for me.
00:09:08Robert Stephen Denton is charged with three offences under the Official Secrets Acts.
00:09:14Firstly, that he communicated official information to an unauthorised person.
00:09:41Secondly, that he communicated a secret document to a foreign power.
00:09:52And thirdly, that contrary to Section 7 of the Official Secrets Acts, 1920,
00:09:59he did acts preparatory to communicating information calculated to be useful to an enemy, namely the Soviet Union.
00:10:09That's right, Miss Field, a new carbon ribbon.
00:10:24How many sheets of A4 with double spacing could you type with such a ribbon?
00:10:28I'm not sure, about 40 to 50.
00:10:30You're not certain?
00:10:31No.
00:10:32But you think about 40 to 50, and that's a variation of 10 sheets.
00:10:37And as you've already said, you usually type 250 words to a sheet,
00:10:41so that is 2,500 words about which you are not sure.
00:10:44Yes, well, I'm fairly certain there was enough ribbon left on the typewriter when I covered the machine up on Thursday night.
00:10:49So now you're only fairly certain.
00:10:51Just how much ribbon was left, actually, Miss Field?
00:10:54About an eighth of an inch thickness left on the spool.
00:10:57An eighth of an inch, as much as that?
00:11:00Yes.
00:11:00And is that all carbon ribbon?
00:11:03Yes.
00:11:03Really?
00:11:04But I thought the last yard or so was blank.
00:11:06Oh, well, there is a bit. I forgot.
00:11:08Oh, you forgot, and so your last answer was incorrect.
00:11:10Oh, my lord, my learned friend is splitting hairs.
00:11:12Well, an eighth of an inch is much thicker than her hair, my lord.
00:11:14Oh, let's get on, Miss Tate.
00:11:16Is an eighth of an inch of ribbon from a full spool the same as an eighth of an inch of ribbon from a nearly exhausted spool?
00:11:21Well, yes, of course it is. That stands to reason.
00:11:23I'll tell you what stands to reason, Miss Field.
00:11:26One eighth of an inch of ribbon on a new spool amounts to far more ribbon than an eighth of an inch on a nearly exhausted spool.
00:11:31Oh, my lord.
00:11:32That is a simple fact known to any hi-fi enthusiast, my lord, who uses tape recorders.
00:11:37My learned friend said in his opening address that he would prove beyond all doubt that my client used that typewriter on the night of March the 7th.
00:11:45But from the evidence he has produced so far, it would seem it would be impossible to use that machine.
00:11:49Well, I'm pleased to hear my colleague use the word so far.
00:11:51Yes, I think Miss Tate is not pursuing an unfair line of questioning.
00:11:55I think she's perfectly entitled to put these questions.
00:11:57My lord.
00:11:58My lord.
00:12:00Miss Field, how much typing can you do with the first eighth of an inch of tape on a new spool as opposed to the last eighth of an inch on an old spool?
00:12:07I don't know.
00:12:08I really don't know.
00:12:09And yet, Miss Field, you thought there was enough ribbon left on that Thursday evening.
00:12:13Well, I suppose there might have been.
00:12:15No, you must answer the question clearly.
00:12:18Was there enough ribbon left on the reel for you to finish the report on Friday morning, or do you simply not know?
00:12:26Well, there was and was there, otherwise I wouldn't have run out, would I?
00:12:28Well, I thought I knew, but she twists everything I say.
00:12:31That's all right, that's all right.
00:12:32Do you have any more questions, Miss Tate?
00:12:34No, my lord.
00:12:36Mr Golding, do you wish to re-examine?
00:12:37Miss Field, now you have to use a fair amount of intuitive judgment in your work, do you not?
00:12:42Oh, yes, I suppose so.
00:12:44Now, when you saw what little ribbon was left in your typewriter, you knew instinctively that there would be enough left to finish your report the following day?
00:12:52Yes, of course, I knew there was heaps left to finish it.
00:12:55And how did you explain running out of ribbon to Miss Stone?
00:12:58Well, I said somebody else must have used me typewriter overnight.
00:13:01Somebody else must have used your typewriter overnight, yes.
00:13:05Thank you, Miss Field.
00:13:06Does your lordship have any questions?
00:13:08No, thank you, Mr Golding.
00:13:12Oh, yes.
00:13:13Miss Field, I understand your expertise is urgently required by your employers.
00:13:18You're free to leave the court.
00:13:21It was having the typists bringing me their work each evening that I was able to keep a check on them,
00:13:26not having a room provided for a proper typing pool.
00:13:30I keep a record of all my girls' work which shows whether a fabric or a carbon ribbon should be used.
00:13:35Yes.
00:13:36Miss Stone, what did you do when Miss Field asked you for a new ribbon?
00:13:39Well, I asked her to bring back the old one.
00:13:40Did you want to see if she was telling the truth?
00:13:42No, I just wanted to look at the old ribbon.
00:13:45My girls don't lie.
00:13:47Not to me, anyway.
00:13:48I'm sure.
00:13:50May she be shown exhibit two, please?
00:13:52Yes.
00:13:53Now, this is the carbon ribbon which was left overnight in Miss Field's typewriter.
00:13:57Now, is that the ribbon that Miss Field brought to you?
00:13:59Please handle it carefully.
00:14:02Yes.
00:14:03Are you sure?
00:14:04Of course I'm sure.
00:14:04I read what was on it.
00:14:05Miss Stone, do I understand you correctly?
00:14:08It is possible to read what is on a carbon ribbon?
00:14:11If you look carefully.
00:14:12Yes.
00:14:13With your permission, my lord, I would like to demonstrate this.
00:14:15Yes, Mr. Golding.
00:14:19Pulling the equation, please.
00:14:21Oh, I see a silk can use his rank to call out the troops.
00:14:35Yes, Miss Date.
00:14:37Yes, carbon ribbons are messy things to handle, my lord.
00:14:40And rather than have your lordship and the jury dirty their hands,
00:14:43I propose this simple demonstration.
00:14:44Now, you recall, members of the jury,
00:14:47that this ribbon was used by the last witness
00:14:50when she typed details of the charges against the accused for me.
00:14:57If we may have some light off, please, my lord.
00:14:58Yes.
00:14:58Yes.
00:15:14Just bear with me for a moment, members of the jury.
00:15:27You will see that the words Miss Field typed
00:15:30can be very plainly read,
00:15:33albeit with no spaces in between them.
00:15:35Robert Stephen Denton is charged
00:15:43with three offences
00:15:45under the Official Secrets Act.
00:15:51Well, there.
00:15:53Thank you, my lord.
00:15:54May we have some lights on, please?
00:16:02Miss Stone,
00:16:03will you please tell the court what you read
00:16:05on the ribbon which Miss Field brought to you?
00:16:08At the end of the ribbon were the last words she typed,
00:16:10but before that, my lord...
00:16:12Please answer the question.
00:16:14There was a list of microwave radar frequencies.
00:16:17How can you be so sure?
00:16:18Each row of numbers ended with the letters MHZ.
00:16:22That's the abbreviation for megahertz.
00:16:24There was a lot of other information, too.
00:16:26I saw the name of a new guided weapon mentioned as well,
00:16:29plus a lot of information about it.
00:16:31Yes. Was it possible that Miss Field might have typed
00:16:33this information for someone else?
00:16:34No, she had no other work to do.
00:16:36Besides, the ribbon was full of typing errors
00:16:39as if it had been typed by somebody else.
00:16:41Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr Stone.
00:16:43Yes, yes.
00:16:43You must only answer counsel's questions.
00:16:46You mustn't add any comments of your own.
00:16:48I'm sorry, sir.
00:16:49That's all.
00:16:49Now, what did you do then, Miss Stone?
00:16:51I had already called Mr Denton to ask
00:16:53if he knew anything about it,
00:16:54but he was away on leave that day,
00:16:56so I called Mr Guthrie, the HEO.
00:16:58HEO?
00:17:00Higher executive officer, my lord.
00:17:02Thank you, Miss Stone.
00:17:05Have you any technical training, Miss Stone?
00:17:07No.
00:17:09And yet you were able to recognise
00:17:10microwave radar frequencies
00:17:12by reading them off a typewriter ribbon.
00:17:14I've been in the civil service for 30 years
00:17:16and have probably typed more technical reports
00:17:19than there are days in your career as a lawyer.
00:17:21Mr Golding.
00:17:26There's no re-examination, my lord.
00:17:28Thank you, Miss Stone.
00:17:29It is my next witness, my lord,
00:17:31who will have to reveal classified information
00:17:33as part of his testimony.
00:17:34Oh, very well.
00:17:35Clear the public gallery.
00:17:37Ensure that only court personnel are present.
00:17:41Members of the jury,
00:17:55the accused is facing charges
00:17:56under the Official Secrets Act.
00:17:58Now, the provisions of these acts
00:18:00apply to everyone in the country,
00:18:03and so they apply now to you and to me.
00:18:06This means that you mustn't discuss
00:18:09or in any way communicate with anyone else
00:18:12the evidence you are about to hear.
00:18:15The only time when you may do so
00:18:17is amongst yourselves
00:18:18when you are called upon to consider your verdict.
00:18:22Yes, Mr Golding, please call your witness.
00:18:26Mr Guthrie, you are a senior civil servant
00:18:29at the Ministry of Defence Guided Weapons
00:18:31Research Establishment near Fulchester.
00:18:33I'm a civil servant, yes.
00:18:34The council asked if you were
00:18:36a senior civil servant, Mr Guthrie.
00:18:38Well, there's the director
00:18:39and deputy director above me.
00:18:41Are you a higher executive officer, Mr Guthrie?
00:18:45Why, yes.
00:18:46Well, at least we know what Mr Guthrie is,
00:18:48eh, Mr Golding?
00:18:49My lord.
00:18:51Would you outline your responsibilities
00:18:53at the establishment?
00:18:54I'm IC, the Technical Services Support Group.
00:18:57IC means in charge?
00:18:59Why, yes.
00:19:00Yes.
00:19:01Now, does the department run by the accused
00:19:03come under your control?
00:19:04Yes.
00:19:05And Miss Stone's typing pool?
00:19:06Ah, well, now you've touched on a sensitive issue.
00:19:09None of us is quite sure who Miss Stone comes under
00:19:12and none of us have had the courage
00:19:13to try and find out.
00:19:15Surely she must be responsible to someone.
00:19:18Well, I suppose it must be me.
00:19:20Yes.
00:19:21Now, did Miss Stone bring a used carbon ribbon
00:19:23to you on the morning of March the 8th last?
00:19:25Yes.
00:19:26May the witness see exhibit two, please.
00:19:27Now, is that the same ribbon that Miss Stone brought to you?
00:19:35Yes.
00:19:36How were you able to identify it?
00:19:37Well, if you hold it up to the light,
00:19:39it's possible to see the typing on it.
00:19:40And did you examine the ribbon when Miss Stone showed it to you?
00:19:43Yes, in detail.
00:19:44It puzzled me.
00:19:45Why was that?
00:19:46Well, it contained information that should not have been there.
00:19:49And did you recognise this information?
00:19:51Yes, immediately.
00:19:53And was the information of significance or not?
00:19:56Do you mean of military significance?
00:19:58If you wish.
00:19:59I would say it was of extreme military significance.
00:20:02And would you describe this significance to the court, please?
00:20:06You needn't worry.
00:20:07The court has been cleared.
00:20:08The jury have been warned.
00:20:09The ribbon was a word-for-word copy
00:20:11of a document kept in Denton's security cabinet.
00:20:15It dealt with the operational data
00:20:17of a recently developed surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile.
00:20:20In particular, it listed the channel frequencies
00:20:23used by the weapon's on-board radar homing system.
00:20:26And why are these frequencies so important?
00:20:28Well, once you know the frequencies used by a particular missile,
00:20:31it's possible to build jamming equipment into an aircraft
00:20:34to disorientate the missile.
00:20:36The list and ribbon also contained the channel triggering sequences.
00:20:40Yes. Now, without getting too technical,
00:20:42would you enlarge on the missile homing system, please?
00:20:45Ah, well, basically it's fairly simple.
00:20:47Well, a missile is aimed into an area of interest.
00:20:52Well, an area of interest is a part of the sky
00:20:54where an enemy aircraft has been detected,
00:20:56either by ground radar or eyeball contact.
00:21:00Now, with an ordinary ballistic launch,
00:21:02such as the wartime V2s,
00:21:03there would be a million to one chance of hitting the target.
00:21:06So, the missile is automatically aimed at the target by its...
00:21:10Sorry, it is automatically guided to the target
00:21:13by its on-board radar homing system.
00:21:16The radar works by measuring the strength of the signals
00:21:18reflected from the target.
00:21:20Once the echoes rise above a certain point,
00:21:22the missile thinks it's on top of the target
00:21:24and automatically detonates its warhead.
00:21:26But, if the target aircraft transmits the same signal
00:21:31on the exact frequency,
00:21:34then the missile receives an abnormally strong signal
00:21:37and detonates its warhead prematurely.
00:21:40It can even explode on launching,
00:21:43killing highly trained personnel.
00:21:44I hope I make myself clear.
00:21:46Perfectly clear.
00:21:47Now, were you worried about this information being on the river?
00:21:50Extremely worried.
00:21:51And what did you do next?
00:21:54Well, I thought there must be some rational explanation,
00:21:56so I telephoned Denton's home.
00:21:58He was on leave that day, but his wife told me that...
00:22:01Yes, yes, sir.
00:22:02What did you do after you spoke to his wife?
00:22:05I called security.
00:22:06You thought there might be some security risk, is that it?
00:22:10Well, I prayed to God I was wrong,
00:22:11but I believed Denton had gone to London
00:22:14to sell information to the Russians.
00:22:16And had Denton told you anything
00:22:17to make you consider that as a possibility?
00:22:19Did you hear counsel's question?
00:22:23He had been unable to sell his house.
00:22:25It was generally known that he badly needed 5,000 pounds
00:22:28to meet a contract deadline on a villa he was buying in Spain.
00:22:33I have no further questions.
00:22:37This, um, 5,000 pounds.
00:22:39Now, the accused came to you for help about this in February, did he not?
00:22:43Yes.
00:22:43Why, were you in a position to lend such a sum?
00:22:47Well, I'm secretary of our staff association.
00:22:48Mr. Denton wanted the question of a bridging loan put on the February agenda.
00:22:52And did you agree to this?
00:22:54No.
00:22:57The, um...
00:22:58The new missile that you were so eloquent about, what's its name?
00:23:03Toad.
00:23:04A curious name.
00:23:06Well, that's the NATO code name for it.
00:23:08The Russians call it Valkyria.
00:23:09Well, why should the Russians have a name for it?
00:23:12Well, why shouldn't they? It's their missile.
00:23:13Are we to understand that the information it is alleged the accused supplied to the Russians
00:23:18is nothing more than information on one of their own missiles?
00:23:22Yes, that's right.
00:23:24Why?
00:23:25Isn't it common knowledge?
00:23:26Well, all right.
00:23:29Thank you very much.
00:23:32¶¶
00:24:01The case of the Queen against Denton will be resumed tomorrow in the Crown Court.
00:24:31Robert Stephen Denton, a 63-year-old civil servant at the Guided Weapons Research Establishment near Fulchester,
00:24:46is charged under the Official Secrets Acts with copying and supplying the Russians
00:24:50with a document containing information on a new guided missile.
00:24:54However, he did not realise that the carbon ribbon in the typewriter retained a perfect image of everything he typed.
00:25:03In order to avoid revealing the identity of the Special Branch officers who arrested Denton, the court was cleared.
00:25:09The officer has given his evidence and the court is reassembling.
00:25:13I call Victor Crozier.
00:25:23Mr. Crozier, are you the London Director of the El Sol Estates Development Corporation?
00:25:28Yes.
00:25:29And have you had any business dealings with the accused?
00:25:31He was buying one of our Mediterranean villas.
00:25:34Where is this villa?
00:25:35In Spain, on the Costa Blanca, at the fishing village of Calpe, not far from Benidorm.
00:25:42Yes.
00:25:42Now, would you tell the court how you first met the accused?
00:25:45He came to our London office in July of last year.
00:25:48He'd been to Benidorm on a package holiday and had visited Calpe to see the fishermen land their catch.
00:25:53He'd caught at our local site office and got details of our new development there.
00:25:57Yes.
00:25:58How many villas were you proposing to build?
00:25:59Ten luxury units and ten super luxury units with swimming pools.
00:26:05And which type did the accused wish to buy?
00:26:07The super luxury type.
00:26:08He paid the £500 reservation fee within a week of seeing me in my London office.
00:26:13And what happened next?
00:26:14We flew him back out to Spain to sign the contract before the notary at Calpe's Town Hall.
00:26:18May he be shown Exhibit 3, please?
00:26:20Yes.
00:26:22Now, is that the contract he signed?
00:26:26Yes, yes.
00:26:26He agreed to pay half of the cost of the villa within three months of signing the contract
00:26:31and the other half when the villa was completed.
00:26:34Yes.
00:26:34Now, the price was one and a half million pesetas.
00:26:36How much is that in Stirling?
00:26:38About £11,000.
00:26:41Did he pay the first half?
00:26:43Oh, yes.
00:26:44Did you arrange a loan?
00:26:45Oh, no.
00:26:46We could because of his age, but it didn't matter.
00:26:48He paid in cash.
00:26:49When was the villa finished?
00:26:51At the end of March this year.
00:26:53Exhibit 3 is an agreed translation of the contract, is it?
00:26:58Yes, my lord.
00:26:59Under the terms of this contract, the accused had to pay you £5,500 on completion of the building,
00:27:06in default of which he forfeited the building and his original £5,500.
00:27:10My lord, I am not responsible for Spanish law.
00:27:15Mr. Crozier, that clause was not one which the law, Spanish or otherwise, compelled you to include.
00:27:23You included it for your own benefit.
00:27:25There was nothing to stop Mr. Denton employing an abogado to represent him.
00:27:30Did you suggest this?
00:27:31Oh, whether a buyer wishes to be legally represented or not is up to him.
00:27:35That goes for this country as well as Spain.
00:27:37Mr. Crozier, I am well aware that no one is obliged to consult a lawyer.
00:27:42The answer to my question is that you did not suggest to the accused that he consulted one.
00:27:46No, it was up to him.
00:27:49Now, did the accused say anything to you as to when he would like his villa completed?
00:27:53Yes, he said it was when he retired and he asked if it were possible for it to be finished last,
00:27:59as he wasn't going to retire for two years and he needed time to sell his house.
00:28:03What did you say?
00:28:04Oh, well, I said it was possible, but of course we gave no guarantees.
00:28:07You said it was possible.
00:28:09Now, do you think you left the accused under the impression that he would have two years before he had to pay this money?
00:28:16My lord, as I said, I gave no guarantees.
00:28:18Buying property in Spain is almost as easy as buying a car.
00:28:21Now, that's why I didn't suggest that he had a lawyer.
00:28:25And there aren't the complications that there are in this country.
00:28:28You mean there aren't the safeguards for the buyer?
00:28:31Yes, Mr. Goody.
00:28:33Now, did you write to the accused at the end of last November saying that the villa would be completed by the end of March
00:28:38when the balance owing would be due?
00:28:41Yes.
00:28:42Nearly two years early?
00:28:43Well, as I said, I gave no guarantees.
00:28:47Yes.
00:28:48May he be shown Exhibit 4, please?
00:28:51Now, is that the letter you have just referred to?
00:28:55Yes.
00:28:56So the position was, Mr. Crozier, that the accused had to pay the remaining £5,500 at the end of March
00:29:03or lose the £5,500 he had already paid?
00:29:06Yes.
00:29:07And did he do so?
00:29:08No.
00:29:08So he lost his £5,500?
00:29:12Yes.
00:29:13How many Mediterranean villas have you handled, Mr. Crozier?
00:29:16Oh, it must be hundreds. I don't have any exact figures.
00:29:19Have you sold many to clerical officers in the civil service?
00:29:22No, only to Denton, and frankly, I found the fellow somewhat suspect.
00:29:26Oh, yes, thank you.
00:29:28Will you wait there, please?
00:29:28Mr. Crozier, what is the difference between a villa and an apartment?
00:29:36About £6,000.
00:29:40The physical difference?
00:29:41Well, £6,000 is pretty physical to me.
00:29:44Answer the council's question.
00:29:47Well, a villa isn't an easy word to define.
00:29:50Really?
00:29:51Well, it's a word you use in your sales literature often enough.
00:29:54In fact, you use it to describe nearly all your properties.
00:29:58Except those above ground level.
00:30:00Oh, I see.
00:30:01So in a block of flats, those on the ground level are villas,
00:30:03and those above are apartments.
00:30:05Yes.
00:30:06My lord, I would like to go into the villa in question in more detail,
00:30:10because I'd like to get things in perspective.
00:30:13It is very easy to get the wrong impression of my client's taste.
00:30:17Could he be shown the plan of the villa, Exhibit 5, my lord?
00:30:21Is this the plan that you showed to the accused?
00:30:35Yes.
00:30:36A row of terraced villas, I see.
00:30:40Which one was the accused buying?
00:30:42The second on the left.
00:30:44An inside one?
00:30:45Yes.
00:30:46Cheaper than an outer one?
00:30:47I did.
00:30:48Where would the swimming pools be?
00:30:52Ah, well, they would just be the one.
00:30:55One pool to be shared by all the occupants of the block?
00:30:57They all contribute towards the rental of the pool.
00:31:01Oh, really?
00:31:02Then they wouldn't be buying it.
00:31:03A swimming pool requires a great deal of attention.
00:31:06Chemicals have to be added every day,
00:31:09and the pH level checked once every week.
00:31:12Would the pool receive the same loving attention
00:31:14as the ones in your El Mirador development on the Costa del Sol?
00:31:18The newspapers misrepresented the truth in the matter.
00:31:21Let's see.
00:31:22Mr. Denton would have, his villa would have a four-meter-wide lounge.
00:31:27A 30 square meters of open space planned living area.
00:31:33Yes, I suppose walls would make it seem claustrophobic.
00:31:36They are very compact.
00:31:38One spends a great deal of time in Spain out of doors.
00:31:41One would have to.
00:31:42Still, one mustn't be too critical.
00:31:44Well, this compact terrace villa with panoramic views
00:31:47of the hotel you planned to build in front of it
00:31:49was only £11,000 after all.
00:31:54Now, the £500 reservation fee,
00:31:57did any of that money go towards the purchase price?
00:32:00No, that was for administrative and legal costs.
00:32:04It included a free air passage to view the property on site.
00:32:07In Mr. Denton's case, it was to sign the contract.
00:32:08And we also gave one free night's accommodation
00:32:13at a hotel in Benidorm.
00:32:15Yes.
00:32:16Well, I understand that you have an arrangement
00:32:18with a tour operator
00:32:20to take up spare seats on flights from Gatwick to Alicante
00:32:23for £25, which includes overnight board and lodging.
00:32:27I don't have any figures, exact figures, available.
00:32:30Well, I'm sure that's very wise of you.
00:32:32My lord, I do.
00:32:33I object to council's imputations.
00:32:35After all, who is on trial here, Denton or me?
00:32:37Oh, dear, Mr. Crozier,
00:32:38are you expecting to stand trial for something?
00:32:42Yes, Miss Tate?
00:32:43I have no more questions, my lord.
00:32:44Do you wish to re-examine, Mr. Gilden?
00:32:46No, my lord, thank you.
00:32:48I call Morris Weller.
00:32:54Are you Morris Weller
00:32:56and do you live at 93A Station Road, Fulchester?
00:32:58That's right.
00:32:59Yes.
00:33:00Do you own the garage Weller Motors near Fulchester?
00:33:02Since 1950.
00:33:04Little Warnsley bypass.
00:33:05Treble stamps on four gallons and over.
00:33:08Mr. Weller, you are here to give evidence,
00:33:09not to advertise your business.
00:33:11Oh, sorry, Your Worship.
00:33:12Now, do you know the accused?
00:33:15Mr. Denton, oh, I'd say.
00:33:16Been a regular ever since I opened up.
00:33:18Always give him extra stamps.
00:33:19Yes.
00:33:20Besides petrol,
00:33:22have you ever sold anything else to the accused?
00:33:23Oh, he's always got his cars from me.
00:33:25And how many have you supplied to him over the years?
00:33:27Eight.
00:33:28Well, when did you supply the last one?
00:33:30September last year.
00:33:31Yes.
00:33:32And did this sale differ from the seven previous sales?
00:33:35Well, yes, I suppose it did.
00:33:37It's the first time he's bought a new car from me.
00:33:39Were you surprised?
00:33:40A bit.
00:33:41How was the sale financed?
00:33:43Cash.
00:33:44Had the accused always paid cash for his cars?
00:33:47Oh, no, never.
00:33:47I always fixed up the HP for him.
00:33:50So, the car he purchased in September of last year
00:33:51was his first new car
00:33:53and the first time he had ever paid cash.
00:33:55Yeah.
00:33:56Well, he said he cashed a policy or something.
00:33:58Yes.
00:33:58Now, what was the make of this new car he purchased?
00:34:00It was a Citroen Diane 6.
00:34:02You know, the rear end sticks up in the airlock.
00:34:04Indeed.
00:34:05Now, do you know whether he still got this car?
00:34:07No, no, he hasn't.
00:34:08He sold it back to me.
00:34:09And when was that?
00:34:10January this year.
00:34:11Did you suggest this or did he?
00:34:12No, no, he did.
00:34:14Now, what did he say?
00:34:15Well, he said that he was a bit short
00:34:17and he needed money badly.
00:34:18He said he needed the money badly, yes.
00:34:21And what did you give him for the car?
00:34:24250.
00:34:25250 pounds on a car not six months old
00:34:28originally costing nearly 800 pounds?
00:34:29Well, he wasn't buying a replacement.
00:34:31After all, it was a frog car, you know.
00:34:33Hmm.
00:34:34Do you know what this is?
00:34:35Yes, I do know what that is
00:34:36and that's confidential, that is.
00:34:38What is the book, Mr. Gilding?
00:34:40Well, as the witness says, my lord,
00:34:41it's a confidential book
00:34:42issued to the second-hand motor trade.
00:34:44It lists the buying in and selling prices
00:34:46of all makes of motor car
00:34:47against their year of manufacture.
00:34:50It is the car dealer's bible, my lord.
00:34:53I see.
00:34:54I would like the witness to see it, please.
00:35:01Now, this edition covers the period
00:35:02when the accused sold the Diane back to you.
00:35:05Now, what is the price it recommended
00:35:06for buying in a late 73 Diane 6?
00:35:08I can't find it.
00:35:12It's on page 76.
00:35:15£505 with a reselling price of £625.
00:35:19So what?
00:35:20Well, simply, Mr. Weller,
00:35:20that in January of this year,
00:35:22the accused was so short of money
00:35:23that he was prepared to sell
00:35:25his £500 car back to you
00:35:27for £250.
00:35:30This book had better be marked
00:35:35at Exhibit 6.
00:35:36Yes, Miss Tate.
00:35:39Glass's guide is confidential
00:35:40to the motor trade.
00:35:41Yes, it is.
00:35:42I don't know what he's doing with it.
00:35:43And as far as you know,
00:35:44Mr. Denton did not know
00:35:45what price his car was recommended
00:35:47to be in the guide.
00:35:48I suppose he didn't, no.
00:35:50Quite.
00:35:51Now, Mr. Weller,
00:35:52in the 20-odd years or so
00:35:53that the accused has been coming
00:35:54to your garage,
00:35:55he must have bought
00:35:56a considerable amount of petrol from you.
00:35:58Oh, average about five gallons a week.
00:36:00Yeah, well, I suppose it's a lot by now.
00:36:02Well, that's 5,000 gallons in all.
00:36:04Yeah, that's a tanker load.
00:36:06Do you receive his new certificate
00:36:08of insurance each year
00:36:09from the insurance company?
00:36:10That's right.
00:36:11And their commission?
00:36:12Yeah.
00:36:13What of it?
00:36:14And a commission from the HP companies.
00:36:17So what?
00:36:18Now, this, um,
00:36:19this Citroen Diane,
00:36:21the new car that he purchased,
00:36:22it's just about the cheapest car
00:36:23on the market, isn't it?
00:36:24Yes, along with the little Fiat and the Imp.
00:36:27Look, he was getting through
00:36:2815 gallons a week
00:36:29with the old Woolsey
00:36:30and he only had that
00:36:31because his wife liked it
00:36:32and he looked after it
00:36:33so I gave him a couple on it.
00:36:34Two pounds?
00:36:36Two hundred.
00:36:37What did you get for the Diane
00:36:39when you resold it?
00:36:40Well, I put a 5.50 reserve tag
00:36:42on it at the auction.
00:36:43And did it reach its reserve?
00:36:44Oh, yeah.
00:36:4580 over the top.
00:36:47Nearly 400 pounds profit for you.
00:36:50Very nice.
00:36:51Yeah.
00:36:53Well, that's business, isn't it?
00:36:54Yes, it's business.
00:36:58Mr. Pegler,
00:37:00you are a director of Pegler Finance?
00:37:03Yes.
00:37:03Do you know the accused?
00:37:05Yes.
00:37:06He came to me for a loan last March.
00:37:08May the witness consult his notes, my lord?
00:37:10Yes.
00:37:10March the 1st.
00:37:13Yes.
00:37:14How much did he want to borrow?
00:37:15Five thousand pounds.
00:37:17And did you grant that loan?
00:37:18Certainly not.
00:37:19It's not my policy
00:37:20to finance overseas homes
00:37:22for old-age pensioners
00:37:23and, well, besides,
00:37:25anyone needing money
00:37:26as badly as he did
00:37:27is too much of a security risk.
00:37:29Are you a money lender, Mr. Pegler?
00:37:45No.
00:37:46I'm a financier.
00:37:49Even so,
00:37:49you were required to hold
00:37:51a money lender certificate
00:37:52and a Section 2
00:37:54of the 1927 Money Lenders Act.
00:37:56Yes.
00:37:59How much interest do you charge?
00:38:0247.5%.
00:38:04That is less
00:38:05than the maximum amount
00:38:07prescribed by law.
00:38:08Yes, indeed.
00:38:10But the point is this,
00:38:11isn't it, Mr. Pedler,
00:38:12that it was Mr. Denton
00:38:14who turned down
00:38:15your offer of a loan
00:38:16when he heard about the interest?
00:38:18No, that's wrong.
00:38:19I would not entertain him
00:38:20as a client.
00:38:21That's your story?
00:38:22Yes.
00:38:24Very well.
00:38:25Does your lordship
00:38:26have any questions?
00:38:27No.
00:38:28And that concludes
00:38:28the case for the prosecution,
00:38:29my lord.
00:38:31My lord,
00:38:31I have a submission to make.
00:38:33Yes, Miss Tate.
00:38:34My submission is
00:38:35that in relation to count 2,
00:38:37there is no charge to answer.
00:38:39That is the count
00:38:40which charges the accused
00:38:42under Section 1
00:38:43of the Official Secrets Act 1911
00:38:45with communicating a document
00:38:47which was calculated to be
00:38:49or might be
00:38:50or was intended to be
00:38:52directly or indirectly
00:38:53useful to an enemy.
00:38:55Now, your lordship will recall
00:38:57that the evidence is
00:38:58that the only information
00:39:00communicated
00:39:00was the radar frequencies
00:39:02of the Russian's own missile.
00:39:05Well, in my submission, my lord,
00:39:07it is inconceivable
00:39:08that the information
00:39:09could have been useful
00:39:10to the enemy.
00:39:11Unless, of course,
00:39:12which has not been suggested,
00:39:14the Russians had only one copy
00:39:16of their radar frequencies
00:39:17and they'd lost it.
00:39:20Yes, Mr. Building.
00:39:22My lord,
00:39:22what my learned friend
00:39:23has overlooked
00:39:23is that her client,
00:39:25by passing to the Russians
00:39:26these radar frequencies,
00:39:27communicated to the Russians
00:39:29the fact that the British
00:39:30knew these frequencies.
00:39:31And the fact of this information
00:39:33is knowledge
00:39:34which would be useful
00:39:35to the enemy.
00:39:37So the information
00:39:38as to what the British
00:39:40Secret Service knew,
00:39:41you say,
00:39:42is the information
00:39:42that would be useful
00:39:43to the Russians?
00:39:43Yes, my lord.
00:39:45Here.
00:39:45Miss Tate.
00:39:47My lord,
00:39:47the charge does not specify
00:39:49that the information
00:39:50was information
00:39:51as to what our Secret Service knew.
00:39:53And besides,
00:39:54my client did not
00:39:55communicate information.
00:39:57He communicated a document
00:39:59from which the Russians
00:40:00may have deduced
00:40:01or inferred information
00:40:02as to what our Secret Service knew.
00:40:05If my learned friend
00:40:06would pay more attention
00:40:07to the wording of the charge,
00:40:09she would indeed see
00:40:10that the charge
00:40:10is one of communicating
00:40:12a document
00:40:13which might be
00:40:14directly or indirectly
00:40:16useful to the enemy.
00:40:18Yes, indeed.
00:40:19No, Miss Tate,
00:40:21I think the jury
00:40:22must decide
00:40:23whether the communication
00:40:24of this document
00:40:25was useful to the enemy.
00:40:27I reject your submission.
00:40:29Very well, my lord.
00:40:31My lord,
00:40:32I am calling my client,
00:40:33his wife,
00:40:34and two witnesses
00:40:35whose evidence
00:40:36is of a purely
00:40:36background nature.
00:40:38Unless your lordship
00:40:39rules otherwise,
00:40:40I propose to leave
00:40:40my client until last
00:40:42so the other witnesses
00:40:42need not be kept waiting.
00:40:44Mr. Golding.
00:40:45I've no objection, my lord.
00:40:46My learned friend
00:40:46has outlined the probable
00:40:47cause of the evidence.
00:40:51I call Mary Denton, my lord.
00:40:56Mary Denton, please.
00:40:58Come this way, please.
00:41:00Come this way, please.
00:41:03The witness is the wife
00:41:13of the accused?
00:41:14I am.
00:41:16Mrs. Denton,
00:41:16you're under no obligation
00:41:17to give evidence
00:41:18in this trial.
00:41:20But if you do so decide,
00:41:22then the prosecution
00:41:23has the right
00:41:23to cross-examine you.
00:41:25Now, do you understand?
00:41:26Yes.
00:41:27Let the witness be sworn.
00:41:28What is your religion?
00:41:29Church of England.
00:41:31Take the book
00:41:31in your right hand
00:41:32and read aloud
00:41:33the words on this card.
00:41:35I swear by almighty God
00:41:37that the evidence
00:41:38I shall give
00:41:38shall be the truth,
00:41:39the whole truth,
00:41:40and nothing but the truth.
00:41:42Are you Mary Denton?
00:41:44I am.
00:41:45And you live at
00:41:4687 Fulchester Old Road,
00:41:48Little Warnsley?
00:41:49I do.
00:41:50You're the wife
00:41:51of the accused,
00:41:51Robert Denton?
00:41:52Yes.
00:41:53Now, Mrs. Denton,
00:41:54would you please
00:41:55tell the court
00:41:55the circumstances
00:41:56leading up to
00:41:57your husband's visit
00:41:58to London
00:41:58on the 8th of March last?
00:42:03Well, Robert and I
00:42:04were worried about money.
00:42:06We couldn't sell
00:42:07our house as we'd planned.
00:42:08Why was that?
00:42:12Well, we needed to sell it
00:42:13to pay for our place in Spain.
00:42:15But we couldn't.
00:42:16I mean, it didn't have
00:42:17a roof on it.
00:42:17Well, not a proper roof.
00:42:19Would you tell the court why?
00:42:23Well, last November,
00:42:26I think it was,
00:42:26Robert got a letter
00:42:27from these people
00:42:28who were building
00:42:28our place in Spain
00:42:29saying it would be ready
00:42:31at the end of March
00:42:32and that we had to pay
00:42:34the balance owing by then
00:42:36or lose everything,
00:42:38including the money
00:42:38we'd already put down.
00:42:40Were you surprised
00:42:41by the letter?
00:42:42Well, yes.
00:42:43I mean, we didn't think
00:42:44we'd have to sell up
00:42:45for another two years.
00:42:46So what did you do?
00:42:47Well, we thought
00:42:49we'd better put the house
00:42:50on the market right away,
00:42:51pay for the apartment
00:42:52in Spain and, well,
00:42:54move into something rented,
00:42:56you know, caravan maybe,
00:42:57till Robert retired.
00:43:01We went to an estate agent.
00:43:03He sent a couple round
00:43:04and they seemed to like the place
00:43:05and they paid to deposit.
00:43:05But after that,
00:43:09there was a surveyor
00:43:10and he said
00:43:12that we had this beetle
00:43:13in the roof.
00:43:14I forget its name.
00:43:15The longhorn beetle.
00:43:17That's right, yes.
00:43:18It had eaten
00:43:18all the roof timbers.
00:43:20Oh, there was another couple
00:43:21and their surveyor
00:43:21said the same thing
00:43:22and he said
00:43:23that we should do something
00:43:25about it quickly.
00:43:27I think that was
00:43:27very nice of him
00:43:28because, well,
00:43:30he didn't have to say anything.
00:43:32So what did you do then?
00:43:33Oh, we got to build
00:43:34rid of the job.
00:43:35You know, the one
00:43:36with the cheapest estimate.
00:43:38Now, he said
00:43:39a new roof
00:43:40had cost £500
00:43:41and that he needed
00:43:43£250 right away
00:43:45for building materials.
00:43:47Well, we didn't have
00:43:48that sort of money.
00:43:49I mean, not after paying
00:43:50for the first half
00:43:51of the apartment
00:43:51by, well,
00:43:52cashing all our insurance policies.
00:43:56So, Robert took our car
00:43:58back to Mr Weller.
00:44:00You know, he owns
00:44:01the local garage
00:44:02and, well, he very nicely
00:44:04gave us £250 for it.
00:44:06And the builder then
00:44:08started work, did he?
00:44:09Oh, yes, yes.
00:44:10He took off the old roof
00:44:12and he put tarpaulins
00:44:13over the house.
00:44:16But then he went broke
00:44:18and he wouldn't do
00:44:19any more work.
00:44:21And that was in February.
00:44:25And we had to sell the house
00:44:27by the end of March
00:44:28or lose everything.
00:44:29It wasn't that so much.
00:44:37It was Robert's health
00:44:38that was worrying me.
00:44:40He was having these ulcers
00:44:41and they were getting worse
00:44:46with the worry of it.
00:44:49He was losing weight so fast.
00:44:51I mean, you'd only got
00:44:53to look at him
00:44:53and the doctor said...
00:44:57Robert said
00:44:58that the document
00:44:59wasn't a secret.
00:45:01It wouldn't matter
00:45:01if anybody saw it.
00:45:02He was going to ask
00:45:03for payment in advance
00:45:04for whatever they wanted.
00:45:05Don't ask her
00:45:06any more questions.
00:45:08Do you have
00:45:08any more questions,
00:45:10Miss Tate?
00:45:10No, my lord.
00:45:11I merely wanted
00:45:12to establish
00:45:13that Mr Denton
00:45:14had no intention
00:45:15of passing on secrets.
00:45:16I'm very sorry.
00:45:17it was not my intention
00:45:18to upset the witness.
00:45:19No, I'm sure it wasn't.
00:45:21If Mr Golding
00:45:22wishes to cross-examine,
00:45:23I think I will first
00:45:24adjourn the court
00:45:25for a few minutes.
00:45:26I'm sorry to be
00:45:27so much trouble.
00:45:28No trouble,
00:45:29I assure you,
00:45:29Mrs Denton.
00:45:31I don't think
00:45:32I need to cross-examine
00:45:33this witness.
00:45:34No, my lord, thank you.
00:45:35Very well.
00:45:36Mrs Denton is excused.
00:45:38Please see if she can be provided
00:45:39with a cup of tea,
00:45:40something of the kind.
00:45:41I call Gregory Mitchell,
00:45:42my lord.
00:45:43Gregory Mitchell, please.
00:45:48You appear to need
00:45:49little introduction,
00:45:50Mr Mitchell.
00:45:51Are you the author
00:45:52of this book,
00:45:53A Spy in Need?
00:45:54Yes.
00:45:55My lord,
00:45:55interesting though,
00:45:56Mr Mitchell's testimony
00:45:57undoubtedly might be
00:45:58I cannot see what relevance
00:45:58it has to this case
00:46:00before the court.
00:46:00With respect, my lord,
00:46:01it is most relevant
00:46:02if my learned friend
00:46:03will find some little patience.
00:46:05Oh, then we shall see,
00:46:06shall we?
00:46:07Please continue, Mr. Tate.
00:46:08Mr Mitchell,
00:46:10your book describes
00:46:10your activities
00:46:11between the years
00:46:121969 and 1972.
00:46:15Would you summarize
00:46:16those activities for us?
00:46:18Yes, I acted as a go-between
00:46:19between my friends
00:46:20in the intelligence service
00:46:21and a certain senior
00:46:22Soviet army officer
00:46:23in Moscow,
00:46:23a certain Colonel Zerov.
00:46:25Subsequently,
00:46:26we were both arrested
00:46:27and I received
00:46:27a ten-year sentence
00:46:28in the Russian courts.
00:46:30After serving six months,
00:46:31I was exchanged
00:46:32for Rudolf Keller.
00:46:33Were the British government
00:46:34anxious to exchange you?
00:46:36Yes.
00:46:37Why?
00:46:38Well, they needed
00:46:38to verify certain aspects
00:46:40of the information
00:46:41I'd sent to them.
00:46:42But if you had sent it
00:46:44to them,
00:46:44then why did they
00:46:45need to verify it?
00:46:46They needed to know
00:46:48if the Russians knew
00:46:48that I'd sent it to them.
00:46:50I see.
00:46:51And what was
00:46:52that information?
00:46:54Concerned at guided missile,
00:46:55the radar frequencies,
00:46:57something to do
00:46:58with the homing system thing.
00:47:00What was that missile called?
00:47:03Palkyria.
00:47:03Palkyria.
00:47:03Palkyria.
00:47:03Palkyria.
00:47:04Palkyria.
00:47:04Palkyria.
00:47:08Palkyria.
00:47:09Palkyria.
00:47:10Palkyria.
00:47:11Palkyria.
00:47:12Palkyria.
00:47:13Palkyria.
00:47:14Palkyria.
00:47:15Palkyria.
00:47:16Palkyria.
00:47:17Palkyria.
00:47:18Palkyria.
00:47:19Palkyria.
00:47:20Palkyria.
00:47:21The case of the Queen against Denton will be resumed tomorrow in the Crown Court.
00:47:51On the evening of March 7th, Robert Stephen Denton, a 63-year-old clerical officer at the Guided Weapons Research Establishment near Fulchester,
00:48:20worked late at his office to copy a document which he believed would help him to obtain a large sum of money from the Russians.
00:48:27He was arrested the following day as he left the Soviet Embassy.
00:48:31A key defence witness, Gregory Mitchell, the former British spy,
00:48:35is telling the court how he obtained the information two years previously for the British government.
00:48:40I'm managing director of a company that makes electronic control gear for automated agricultural machinery.
00:48:47Russia at that time was one of our best customers, so I made frequent visits to Moscow.
00:48:52Anyway, I was in London in 1969 when a couple of old school chums dropped in for a drink.
00:48:57We'd always kept in touch, and they asked if I'd mind helping them out with a spot of intelligence work,
00:49:02the sort of thing we got involved in during the war.
00:49:04Well, naturally, I was delighted.
00:49:05They just wanted me to listen to gossip and make friends with a Soviet army officer in Moscow.
00:49:10So, on subsequent trips to Moscow, I found this fellow, Colonel Zerov, a charming and cultured man.
00:49:16In fact, we had a great deal in common.
00:49:18Yes, well, to cut a long story short, he came round to my hotel suite one night, hopelessly drunk.
00:49:23They do have quite a drink problem over there.
00:49:26Well, I gather he'd been trying to patch things up with his ex-wife, and she wasn't interested.
00:49:31Anyway, I shoved him into the bedroom to sober up and then settled down to watch a concert on television.
00:49:36It was then that I noticed his briefcase, and it occurred to me that it might contain some things which might be of interest to my friends.
00:49:43I did know that Yuri was involved in testing of a new missile, a surface-to-air one,
00:49:48and so, feeling a bit unethical, I opened his case and had a look.
00:49:54And I found these documents that seemed to be concerned with the testing and servicing of the missile.
00:49:58So I got out my camera. No film.
00:50:02But even if I had had any film, it wouldn't have been any good, because I hadn't got a close-up lens for my camera.
00:50:06But I thought I ought to try and do something.
00:50:08So I went down to the reception and said I had a terrible toothache, and was there an all-night chemist open?
00:50:16Well, to find out, they rang up the police, of all people.
00:50:19Well, luckily, there was one quite nearby, and so I shot out of the hotel, found the chemist, and bought the last reel of a 35mm film.
00:50:27It was in a 20 cassette, you know, cassette thing.
00:50:32And as I was leaving, I suddenly spotted a portrait lens that would fit my camera, so I bought that as well.
00:50:39I had a devil of a job photographing those documents in Yuri's case.
00:50:42You see, I had to fix each one to the wall with a bit of sticking plaster, and then angle the table lamp around like that,
00:50:49and then take a time exposure by tying the camera to the table with my shoelaces.
00:50:54Photographing secret documents always look so easy in the cinema.
00:50:58It isn't.
00:50:59Well, I came to the very last document, and no film.
00:51:04So I got out my portable typewriter, and I typed out a copy of the 21st page.
00:51:09Then I hid the reel of film in the typewriter case, and went down to the foyer to post the copy off to a London Postbox number.
00:51:16Well, as I was going back to the lift, two policemen arrived.
00:51:21It appears that the girl and the chemist had had her suspicions aroused.
00:51:25My accident, I suppose.
00:51:26And the fact of buying photographic gear late at night.
00:51:30Anyway, it was stupid of me.
00:51:31Absolutely stupid.
00:51:33And these two men, they took them, what, three minutes to find the reel of film in the portable typewriter.
00:51:38They're very efficient in some ways, and hopeless in others, just like us, I suppose.
00:51:44Because they didn't think of looking and searching the postbox in the foyer.
00:51:48But you told them about it.
00:51:52I held on for three days.
00:51:54I had to be certain of the letter clearing the country.
00:51:57But you told them eventually.
00:51:58Yes, but after I told them, I begged them to believe that Yuri knew nothing about it.
00:52:14I pleaded, and I pleaded for a week.
00:52:18But it was no good.
00:52:21I'll never forget his face in court.
00:52:23He looked at me with utter contempt as the judge sentenced him.
00:52:32As they led him away, I called out to him, but he ignored me.
00:52:39I never spoke to him again.
00:52:42I saw him once more, and that was when he...
00:52:48What happened to Colonel Serov?
00:52:51He was shot.
00:52:55Murdered.
00:52:57By me.
00:53:01Mr. Mitchell, did the Russians know what you sent?
00:53:06It didn't take them long to find out.
00:53:09Three days interrogation.
00:53:12Then I freely told them that I'd sent a copy of the radar frequencies to London.
00:53:16Did you tell all this to your friends when you returned to London?
00:53:19Yes, they were disappointed.
00:53:23It meant, of course, that the Russians would change the radar frequencies on the production models.
00:53:28How would you describe the outcome of the entire operation?
00:53:34Abortive.
00:53:36Will you look at this document, please?
00:53:38That is Exhibit 7, my lord.
00:53:40Yes.
00:53:40Is this the original manuscript of your book?
00:53:50Yes.
00:53:51Was it necessary for the manuscript to be officially approved before publication?
00:53:55Yes, you'll see the official stamp on each page.
00:53:57Now, if one examines the draft, my lord, one can see that the illustrations include a typewritten
00:54:05list of the Valkyria radar frequencies.
00:54:09What was that?
00:54:11Well, that was a photocopy of what I'd sent from Moscow.
00:54:13But how did you come by it?
00:54:15Well, I thought it might be useful additional material for my book, so I asked my friends
00:54:20if they'd send me a copy.
00:54:21And did you tell them why you needed it?
00:54:23Well, of course.
00:54:24Why isn't that photocopy reproduced in the published book?
00:54:28Well, that was a decision of the publishers.
00:54:30They thought that guided missile radar frequencies would be a little interest to the reader.
00:54:35Thank you, Mr. Mitchell.
00:54:36You have been most helpful.
00:54:40Just a moment.
00:54:43There seems to have been an extraordinary mix-up about the Valkyria documents security classification.
00:54:48I have, my lord, but the security status of the Valkyria document is immaterial.
00:54:54I disagree.
00:54:56One of the reasons you gave for requesting the court should be closed was that we were
00:54:59about to hear classified evidence.
00:55:02And now we find that the document received approval for publication 12 months ago.
00:55:09Here, take this.
00:55:10Do you wish to cross-examine this witness?
00:55:12Yes, my lord.
00:55:14Mr. Mitchell, when you typed out this list of radar frequencies,
00:55:18you considered that you were acting as a servant of Her Majesty's government?
00:55:22Oh, yes.
00:55:23Yes.
00:55:24Which means that the document you produced was, and still is, the property of Her Majesty's
00:55:28government.
00:55:29My lord, I've never before heard the crown using the law of copyright to protect information
00:55:34it's stolen.
00:55:34My lord, I merely wish to establish the authority, the ownership of the Valkyria document.
00:55:40Well, the document which the accused is alleged to have copied was clearly crown property.
00:55:44Thank you, my lord.
00:55:45Well, I don't know if that gets anyone anywhere.
00:55:48No further questions.
00:55:50Just one question, my lord, if I may.
00:55:53Were you satisfied that the manuscript contained no official secrets when you sent it for publication?
00:55:59None at all.
00:56:00Thank you very much.
00:56:02Has your lordship any further questions?
00:56:03No, no, no, thank you.
00:56:05Mr. Mitchell is released.
00:56:06I call Norman Delisle, my lord.
00:56:10Mr. Delisle, until your retirement last year, were you the Director of Security for the Ministry
00:56:15of Defence?
00:56:16Well, I stayed on as a disestablished civil servant, but I'm afraid I had to retire.
00:56:22The old memories started playing tricks.
00:56:25Have you ever heard of the Soviet guided weapon Valkyria?
00:56:29We had our name for that, but I forget it.
00:56:32Toad?
00:56:33Yes, of course.
00:56:34Toad.
00:56:34Now, please, would you tell the court how you first came to hear of this missile?
00:56:38Well, I don't recall when I first heard about it exactly, but we had known for some time
00:56:43that they were developing a new surface-to-air weapon with radar homing instead of infrared.
00:56:48We didn't know what they called it at the time, so we had our own name for it.
00:56:53Toad Frog, something like that.
00:56:55Yes.
00:56:56When did you find out more about it?
00:56:58Well, now, that must have been last year.
00:57:01Oh, perhaps it was the year before.
00:57:03You see, I...
00:57:04Anyway, just before I had to retire, I was called across the road to one of our other
00:57:08offices in Whitehall to look at some information defense intelligence had dug up.
00:57:13By the way, I suppose it's all right for me to say all this, is it?
00:57:16After all, some fellow has written a book about it, hasn't he?
00:57:20Where was I?
00:57:21You were called to Whitehall to look at some information.
00:57:24Ah, yes.
00:57:25Something to do with the missile's guidance system, radio wavelengths.
00:57:31Radar frequencies.
00:57:32Ah, yes.
00:57:32That's right.
00:57:33And the DI people wondered whether we could use that information.
00:57:37Did you know at the time how the British came to be in possession of that information?
00:57:41Well, there was a rumor going around that the fellow being held by the Russians that supplied
00:57:45it, forget his name, but he wrote a book about it when he got back.
00:57:50Is, um, is this the book?
00:57:52Yes, that's it.
00:57:53It's by Gregory Mitchell.
00:57:55That's the fellow, yes.
00:57:56Now, were you...
00:57:56I haven't read that.
00:57:57It's a bit difficult for me nowadays, you see.
00:58:00I have to read a book all in one go, otherwise I can't remember what it's about.
00:58:04Were you supplied with a copy of the information?
00:58:08Oh, yes.
00:58:10I think so.
00:58:11But, um, could you be certain?
00:58:13It is very important.
00:58:15Yes, well, of course, it's rather difficult.
00:58:16It is such a long time ago.
00:58:18But, um, yes.
00:58:20Yes, of course, now that I really think about it, yes.
00:58:22There were two copies of the list.
00:58:24And, uh, what did you do with the copies?
00:58:26Well, of course, one copy would go into the file.
00:58:29And the other copy would go to, uh, what was it?
00:58:32A guided missile, wasn't it?
00:58:34Ah, well, that would go to the Guided Weapon Research Establishment.
00:58:38Not very far from here.
00:58:39Yes, yes.
00:58:40Thank you very much, Mr Delisle.
00:58:42I have no questions, my lord.
00:58:45Very well.
00:58:45You are released.
00:58:46Thank you, Mr Delisle.
00:58:48As your lordship has observed, there still seems to be some doubt about the security classification
00:58:53of the document in question.
00:58:56In order to clarify this, I would like to recall Charles Guthrie, who is Director of
00:59:01Security at the establishment where my client was employed.
00:59:04Yes, Mr. Perry.
00:59:04I asked all the questions I thought Mr. Guthrie was competent to answer.
00:59:07Yes, I'm sure you did, but Mr. Tate seems to think he might be of further assistance,
00:59:11so let's have him back, shall we, my lord?
00:59:17May the witness examine the draft manuscript of the book, Aspire in Need, my lord.
00:59:21That's Exhibit 7.
00:59:22The document in question was not, in fact, published.
00:59:26Nevertheless, is it the document it has alleged the accused copied?
00:59:29Yes, and it's been stamped approved for publication.
00:59:35I don't understand it.
00:59:36Is it possible for a document to be classified as secret in one government department, and for
00:59:47a copy of the same document to be unclassified in another department?
00:59:52I don't see that it can be.
00:59:53It wouldn't make sense.
00:59:55That's what I would have thought.
00:59:56Unless a downgrading notice had been issued and not received by our registry.
01:00:01And how are such notices normally sent?
01:00:05By post.
01:00:06Ordinary post?
01:00:07Yes.
01:00:09How did you receive the Valkyria document?
01:00:12By post.
01:00:14A secret document?
01:00:16Yes.
01:00:18Is this normal?
01:00:18Yes.
01:00:19We send out several tons of classified material in a year.
01:00:23The handbook, or whatever it happens to be, is placed in an inner envelope and marked secret,
01:00:27and that is placed in an ordinary envelope for posting.
01:00:30Marked on Her Majesty's service?
01:00:32Yes.
01:00:34And showing the name and address of the guided weapons establishment.
01:00:38Yes.
01:00:38Well, it's not as bad as it sounds.
01:00:42We take all our mail to the post office each evening by van.
01:00:46It's a normal procedure.
01:00:48I am trying to establish whether or not the Valkyria document is secret.
01:00:53Now, you mentioned downgrading notices.
01:00:57Now, does document classification depend on the issue of such a downgrading notice,
01:01:07or its receipt?
01:01:09Well, I'm afraid I don't know.
01:01:13Really, Mr. Guthrie, you are, after all, in charge of security in your department.
01:01:16I should have thought it reasonable that you should know.
01:01:18Miss Tate, do you intend to call a witness who can clear this up once and for all?
01:01:21No, my lord.
01:01:22As the charges against the accused are connected with official secrets,
01:01:25I had expected that my learner's friend's witnesses would have been experts on official secrets.
01:01:31My lord, my witness has made it perfectly clear that as far as he and his colleagues in Fulchester were concerned,
01:01:35including the accused,
01:01:37the document was regarded as secret.
01:01:40However, my lord, it is absolutely immaterial whether or not a secret document was copied.
01:01:45The wording of the act states very clearly...
01:01:47Yes, I know, as you have already said.
01:01:48But I was led to believe that classified information was involved, official secrets.
01:01:53And I don't like clearing a court just for dramatic effect.
01:01:57My lord, there was no intention on my part to clear the court...
01:01:59Nevertheless, I was misled, and I don't like it.
01:02:03Now, does anybody have any more questions?
01:02:06No, my lord, thank you.
01:02:07No questions, my lord.
01:02:08Thank you for bearing with us, Mr. Guthrie.
01:02:10You may go.
01:02:11Miss Tate, call your next witness.
01:02:12I call the accused, my lord.
01:02:14Robert Stephen Denton.
01:02:15Mr. Denton, in addition to the witnesses we've already heard, did you approach anyone else for the money you so badly needed?
01:02:37I went to my old building, the society.
01:02:41And what was their reaction?
01:02:42Well, said they were sorry, but they needed all their funds for new borrowers.
01:02:47Did you see anyone else?
01:02:49I went to the bank, but they wouldn't even consider a bridging loan.
01:02:53Said I was too old.
01:02:55And the manager said a house without a roof was poor security.
01:03:00When was this?
01:03:00Um, last week in February, or beginning of March.
01:03:05You see, I had to have the money by the end of March, but otherwise...
01:03:09Yes?
01:03:12Well, otherwise I'd lose everything.
01:03:15And did you subsequently lose everything?
01:03:18Hmm.
01:03:19Oh, there's some property company did offer 6,000 for the house.
01:03:24Why didn't you accept that?
01:03:25Well, it was worth double.
01:03:28You see, Mary, you know, my wife, Mary and me, we needed the difference between what we'd get for the house and what we had to pay for the villa,
01:03:39so as to get a bit of capital in order to have some interest.
01:03:43I mean, my pension wouldn't have been...
01:03:44Yes, Mr. Denton.
01:03:46Will you tell the court what happened on the evening of March the 7th?
01:03:52Well, I stayed late at the office.
01:03:55Until everyone had gone home.
01:03:58And then I took a document from my security cabinet.
01:04:02Could the witness be shown the draft manuscript, my lord?
01:04:06Plate 4 in the draft manuscript.
01:04:10Plate 4 at the back.
01:04:15Is that the document you copied?
01:04:19Yes.
01:04:20What did you do with the copy?
01:04:23I took it home.
01:04:24I had a day's leave next day and went up to London.
01:04:28By train.
01:04:30I'd had to sell the car.
01:04:31And where did you go in London?
01:04:34To the Soviet embassy.
01:04:36And did you take that document with you?
01:04:38Yes.
01:04:39Why had you chosen that particular document to copy?
01:04:43Well, because it was about a Russian missile.
01:04:46I mean, I wasn't going to show them anything about our weapons.
01:04:50But what could you possibly hope to gain by showing the Russians information of one of their own missiles?
01:04:56Well, I wanted to show them the sort of information I had access to without actually giving anything away.
01:05:03Who did you see?
01:05:05Oh, he wouldn't tell me his name.
01:05:07We just sat in a little room and had some tea.
01:05:12He sounded quite English.
01:05:14No accent.
01:05:15And what did you tell him?
01:05:17I told him I needed money.
01:05:19And then I showed him the letter from the property company demanding the 5,000.
01:05:24And then I showed him the document I'd copied.
01:05:29He kept that.
01:05:30Did he ask you any questions about the establishment?
01:05:33Oh, yes.
01:05:34But I didn't answer any of them.
01:05:37I told him I could get whatever information they needed,
01:05:41but they would have to pay for it in advance.
01:05:44Did you really think the Russians would go along with such a scheme?
01:05:47To pay in advance?
01:05:49Well, I needed the money so badly, I didn't really think.
01:05:52But supposing it worked?
01:05:55Were you not scared of the consequences?
01:05:57Did you think that the Russians would take kindly to being cheated out of 5,000 pounds?
01:06:02Well, I decided I'd worry about that afterwards.
01:06:07Did you agree to anything there and then?
01:06:09No.
01:06:09He said he'd have to check the document and told me to come back a week later.
01:06:15I, uh...
01:06:18Did they agree to payment in advance?
01:06:21Oh, no.
01:06:22No, nothing was decided.
01:06:24He wouldn't say anything about that.
01:06:26But I told him they were the only terms that I'd consider.
01:06:30You see, I never had any intention of ever giving them any genuine information.
01:06:36I mean, if I'd wanted, I could easily have shown them a...
01:06:39a servicing handbook for one of our latest missiles.
01:06:43Could you take such a book without it being missed?
01:06:46Oh, easily.
01:06:46We kept a stock of spare copies.
01:06:50Yes.
01:06:52Thank you, Mr Denton.
01:06:53How much were you hoping to be able to live on when you retired to Spain?
01:07:00About 25 pounds a week.
01:07:02Do you know the rate of inflation in Spain?
01:07:05Roughly 15 percent.
01:07:08Rough on someone living on a fixed income.
01:07:10Well, we hope to manage.
01:07:13Yes, I'm sure you had good reason for thinking that.
01:07:16Now, we heard your wife say that you suffer from ulcers.
01:07:19Well, I have to watch what I eat.
01:07:22But you require drugs each week.
01:07:24Yes.
01:07:24Yes.
01:07:24Do you know that Spain is not a member of the EEC?
01:07:27Yes.
01:07:28And therefore that you would not qualify for free medical aid?
01:07:31Yes.
01:07:32Can you really expect this court to believe that you and your wife
01:07:35were expecting to live on a mere 25 pounds a week
01:07:38in a country suffering from massive inflation?
01:07:40Would even a bottle of aspirin cost over a pound?
01:07:43Where your own drugs would have cost at least three pounds a week?
01:07:46And the water, two pounds a week?
01:07:48Well, there was a good chance my ulcer would clear up.
01:07:52Yes, you rely on good chances, don't you?
01:07:54You saw a good chance to trade on the position of trust you enjoyed.
01:07:59You realised that you'd need not only the money to secure this villa,
01:08:03but more capital, much more to live on when you got there.
01:08:06Capital which you hoped to amass before you retired in two years
01:08:09by selling a steady stream of your country's secrets to the Russians.
01:08:14That's not true.
01:08:16I would never betray my country.
01:08:19Five thousand pounds to start with?
01:08:22Even treachery has been hit by inflation.
01:08:25It used to be 30 pieces of silver.
01:08:27My lord, that comment is grossly prejudicial and improper.
01:08:30Why not? You're a bloody tutor!
01:08:32Quiet!
01:08:33Yes, I think such comments, if they must be made,
01:08:35are better kept for your address to the jury, Mr Golding.
01:08:38As your lordship pleases.
01:08:39On the evening of March the 7th of the Guided Weapons Research Establishment,
01:08:46you removed a document from a security cabinet without permission, did you not?
01:08:51Yes.
01:08:51Yes.
01:08:52And the following day, you passed a copy of that document to a Soviet official?
01:08:57Yes.
01:08:58And you are asking this jury to believe that you meant no harm?
01:09:03Yes.
01:09:06I have no more questions.
01:09:08Does your lordship have any further questions?
01:09:11No.
01:09:12That concludes the case for the defence, my lord.
01:09:16Members of the jury, will you please look at the copy of the indictment that you have before you?
01:09:21Well, now, count one charges the accused that, contrary to section two of the Official Secrets Act 1911,
01:09:29in that he, having information in which he had access owing to his position as a civil servant,
01:09:33did communicate such information to person or persons to whom he was not authorised to communicate it.
01:09:39Now, in relation to this count, it is important to remember that a civil servant commits this offence
01:09:46if he communicates information to an unauthorised person,
01:09:51even though that information is in no way secret.
01:09:55Now, count two charges him, that contrary to section one of the Official Secrets Act 1911,
01:10:00that he communicated a document which was calculated to be, or might be,
01:10:04or was intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy.
01:10:09Now, before you can convict on this more serious charge,
01:10:12you would have to be sure that the communication of that document
01:10:16was calculated to be, might be, or was intended to be, useful to an enemy.
01:10:22Now, the third count charges the accused that, contrary to section seven of the Official Secrets Act 1920,
01:10:29in that he did acts preparatory to communicating information calculated to be,
01:10:34which might be, intended to be, useful to an enemy.
01:10:39The prosecution support this charge by saying that everything the accused did
01:10:44was preparation for future betrayal of secret information.
01:10:50Consider each count separately, and remember that the prosecution
01:10:53must prove their case to your entire satisfaction on each count
01:11:00before you can convict on that count.
01:11:04Will you now please retire and consider your verdicts?
01:11:06All stand.
01:11:09Members of the jury, will your foreman please stand?
01:11:14Just answer this question, yes or no.
01:11:16Have you reached verdicts upon which you are all agreed?
01:11:18Yes.
01:11:19On the first count, do you find the defendant, Robert Stephen Denton, guilty or not guilty?
01:11:24Guilty.
01:11:25Is that the verdict of you all?
01:11:26Yes.
01:11:27On the second count, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?
01:11:30Not guilty.
01:11:31On the third count, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?
01:11:35Guilty.
01:11:35Is that the verdict of you all?
01:11:37Yes.
01:11:37Mr Justice Michener sentenced Robert Denton to two years' imprisonment
01:11:49on each of the first and third counts
01:11:51after the jury had acquitted him of the other charge.
01:11:53The sentences are to run concurrently.
01:11:57Join us next week when our cameras return
01:11:59and the jury assess the facts in another leading case in the Crown Court.
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