BRITON GETS 35 YEARS AS SPY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505220013-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2010
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: November 11, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP90-00552R000505220013-5
ARTICLE APPEA~
ON PAGE S
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
11 November 1982
Briton gets 35 years as spy ,v
Former intelligence employee admits he worked for Soviets
By Ray Moseley
Chicago Tribune
LONDON-A former employee of
British intelligence pleaded guilty
Wednesday to spying for the Soviet
Union over a 14-year period and was
sentenced to 35 years in prison for
the "incalculable harm" he caused
the Western alliance.
Geoffrey Prime, 44, described by
his own attorney as "a sexual and
social misfit," was sentenced to an
additional three years on unrelated
charges of indecently assaulting
young girls.
British newspapers described - the
case as one of the most important
espionage-cases since World *War IL
Prime was formerly a senior em-
ployee at the top-secret Government
Communications Head uarters-
commonly known as GCHQ--,at Chel-
tenham.
The GCHQ, with the U.S. National
Security Agency, monitors Soviet
bloc military and diplomatic com-
munications around the globe and is
charged with responsibility for
breaking the codes of other nations.
The nature of the information
Prime passed to the Soviets was kept
secret.
BUT ESPIONAGE experts said be
could have given the Russians valu-
able information on the extent to
which their codes are known in the
West and enabled them to dissemi-
nate false and misleading informa-
tion to those listening to their com-
munications.
Britain's lord chief justice, Lord
Lane, passed sentence after Prime
had calmly pleaded guilty to seven
counts of espionage and told him:
"You have done incalculable harm
to the interests and security of this
country and the interests and securi-
ty of our friends and allies. It is said
you are anxious to repair the
damage you have done. But it is
perfectly plain that the huge propor-
tion of it is quite irrevocable. '
The Prime case has caused a rift
between the British and U.S. intel-
ligencies agencies, with the Ameri-
cans complaining that they had been
unable until now to get a full report
from the British on the case. Three
senior officials of the NSA, not iden-
tified, were in court for the trial.
The case also is likely' to have
severe political repercussions for the
government of Prime Minister Mar-
garet Thatcher, especially in light of
statements by several GCHQ em-
ployees that security at the facility
in Cheltenham is extremely lax.
THATCHER HAS promised to
make a full statement about security
to the House of Commons Thursday.
Prime, who resigned his Chet::
tenham job in 1877, was unmasks.
early this ye -after poises.-
questioned him abar out sexual assaitltir
on young girls.
- - ...~
After police left his home, Prlx*
confessed to his wife that he not only; -
was guilty of the assaults but bad.
been a spy for the Soviets. His wife;
Rhona, 37, who broke down and wept.
at his trial, then contacted the police
and told them of his confession. - 7
Sir Michael Havers,. the attorne
general, said Prime subsequently,.
confessed to police that -be spied-for-
-the Russians through "a misplaced'
'idealistic view of Soviet socialis--
d
problems wi by basic 1ogicaI::.
within himself.'n ,rry
He said Prime confessed that be'
initiated contacts with the Soviets in
Berlin in 1968 when. he worked ? for:
the Royal Air Force-signal s 1 $ll= .
gence division. ,
Prime told police that- he-V;8&_
trained in "the arts of a spy" in Bas[
Berlin where he was taught inviroib7e.:
writing, use of a miniature. cameras -
handling of microdots and.dead -lei:;
ter box procedures. __: ,
HE WAS GIVEN the code nais
"Rowlands" and a Password. If:2*.
contact said: "I believe we mei:is.
Pittsburgh in 1968," be was to reft.
"No, at that time I was.in Berhii
= ~ 1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP90-00552R000505220013-5