Guard admits stealing secrets

Raphael Bravo admitted stealing defence secrets

Security guard Rafael Bravo has admitted stealing military secrets and trying to sell them to Russian agents.

Bravo, 30, from Willesden, west London, was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to charges under the Official Secrets Act relating to documents he stole from British Aerospace.

He embarked on an enterprise to sell secrets to a foreign power - in this case the Russians

Aftab Jafferjee QC

The Old Bailey in London heard how he tried to sell the documents to an undercover MI5 officer, believing him to be a Russian spy.

The charges were based on five documents marked "useful to the enemy" and British or Nato Secrets.

Bravo had been employed by the Crusader security firm and was working at the British Aerospace offices in Stanmore, Middlesex.

Sting operation

The theft of "secret" documents from the firm, now called Bae Systems, sparked major security alerts but Bravo was soon the prime suspect.

An MI5 officer pretending to be a Russian agent contacted Bravo, who offered to supply him with the information.

Bravo was arrested by Special Branch and security service officers when the two men met at a the White House Hotel in London on 22 August.

The documents related to a Nato electronic warfare surveillance system, data for the defence of British warships and to equipment for Harrier jump jets and the Apache helicopter.

The full charges claim that on or before 8 August this year, Bravo obtained documents "useful to the enemy, belonging to British Aerospace Ltd, for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State".

Four documents involved in the charges referred to:

Design requirement specification for Prophet Asic, a designated Nato secret - believed to be a state of the art electronic warfare surveillance system

DLH ship configuration and threat library data interface specification - thought to contain radar and other data essential to the defence of British shipping

Secrets belonging to the defence system of the Apache WAH-64 attack helicopter, designated for "UK eyes only"

The latest draft of the "Zeus MDD", designated "UK secret", with defence systems information on the Harrier jump jet.

Bravo pleaded guilty to a theft charge and an offence under the Official Secrets Act relating to each one.

He also pleaded guilty to a further offence under the Act of communicating information prejudicial to the interest or safety of the State on 22 August.

Bravo also asked for a secrets charge and a theft charge relating to a final document concerning the Monopulse defence system to be taken into consideration.

Family man

Aftab Jafferjee, prosecuting, said the security guard abused his position of trust by stealing security documents in the course of his night time patrols.

"He embarked on an enterprise to sell secrets to a foreign power - in this case the Russians."

Rock Tansey QC, defending, said Bravo was a man of previous good character who came from a came from a "very hard-working and decent family".

"It is acknowledged that he is in no way politically motivated," he said.

He asked for the case to be put over for pre-sentence reports about Bravo's background.

Bravo is expected to be sentenced on 1 February next year.