Hanssen 'told wife about spy activities'

Hanssen may have been involved in espionage as long ago as 1979

By Washington correspondent Paul Reynolds

Reports in the United States say that Robert Hanssen, the FBI agent accused for spying for the Russians started his espionage activities many years earlier than at first thought.

Hanssen said to have suffered mental torment

According to media reports, Mr Hanssen's wife became suspicious of him as long ago as 1979.

He told her that he had given information to the Russians, but that it was false information.

He promised her that he would break off contacts and would make a confession to a Catholic priest.

He would also donate the money he had received to Mother Theresa of Calcutta.

This appears to have satisfied his wife.

Mental wound

Whether he carried out his side of the agreement is not known.

The source of this story seems to be a psychiatrist retained by the defence who examined Mr Hanssen but who has since been dismissed.

According to one report the psychiatrist said that Mr Hanssen resumed his spying activities without telling his wife, but at the same time confessed to his priest.

The psychiatrist claimed that Mr Hanssen was tormented by psychological demons having suffered from a grave mental wound described only as "factor x".

Death penalty deal

All this comes as the justice department is reported to have agreed in principle that Mr Hanssen should not face the death penalty, but should instead reveal all, plead guilty and be sentenced to life without parole.

His wife would receive his pension.

It is believed that the intelligence organisations themselves urged that Mr Hanssen's life be spared so long as he talked.

In that way they could better assess the damage he has done and could turn to him later if further lines of enquiry developed.