MI5 Knew Agent Was Misogynist 'Obsessed' with Violence, Watchdog Finds
Agent X had used his status to coercively control his then-girlfriend, including attacking her with a machete.
A secret inquiry by MI5's watchdog concluded that the security service was aware that an abusive agent it defended in court was a misogynist who was "obsessed" with violence, the BBC can reveal.
The inquiry followed 's original exposure of how MI5 had concealed the actions of the man — a neo-Nazi informant publicly known as agent X.
In 2022, the government took the BBC to court in an unsuccessful attempt to block the investigation, but the court granted agent X legal anonymity.
That year, the BBC first reported how the MI5 spy had used his position to coercively control his girlfriend, including attacking her with a machete, before relocating abroad to continue intelligence work while still under investigation.
Following the BBC's report, the office of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPCO), led by Sir Brian Leveson, launched a confidential inquiry. Details of this inquiry are now being disclosed for the first time.
In response to the revelations, the spy's former partner, known as Beth, told the BBC:
"I'd like to see a full apology for the fact that MI5 actually were willing to use somebody like X and the fact they were aware of his abuse towards me and they did nothing at all."
'Openly Misogynistic' with MI5 Handlers
IPCO, which oversees the use of covert investigatory powers including those of the UK's intelligence agencies, concluded:
"Strong indications" of agent X's interest in violence, including video footage of him threatening his girlfriend with a machete, did not prompt MI5 to review his suitability as an agent. IPCO stated it "should have done."
Agent X was "openly misogynistic" with his MI5 handlers, who knew he was involved with a "pick up artistry" movement that seeks to exploit women for sex, but "none of this attracted much attention" from the handlers.
MI5 knew agent X was "obsessed" with violence because he disclosed this to them, and there were indications he might pose a threat to others "arising from his general interest in extreme violence." However, IPCO noted a "lack of sufficient professional curiosity" by MI5 regarding him.
In a statement to the BBC, IPCO said its inspection "identified serious failings in MI5's management of agent X" and required MI5 to take action to address these failings.
"MI5 subsequently made significant changes to its policies, practices and procedures, which have been tested at subsequent inspections.
MI5's work in this area is ongoing and IPCO will continue to supervise this through its rigorous inspection programme."
During its inspection, which concluded in 2024, MI5 misled IPCO about maintaining its core "neither confirm nor deny" secrecy policy regarding X's status as an agent during conversations with the BBC.
In reality, MI5 had disclosed to the BBC that he was an agent during early attempts in 2020 to prevent the investigation.
MI5 also provided false evidence to three courts on this matter, prompting a further IPCO investigation, which is due to report to the prime minister imminently.
IPCO's inspection found no evidence in "case records" to suggest MI5 was aware of any sinister motivation by X for becoming an agent.
The IPCO inspection report was recently disclosed to the BBC as part of ongoing legal proceedings, along with other previously confidential documents. The proceedings remain active as the court will soon consider what action to take regarding MI5's false evidence.
'Whole Case Has Been a Disaster for Everyone'
An internal MI5 document, an interview with the head of the team managing agent X, reveals the officer stating that X should never have been used as a covert human intelligence source (CHIS) or agent.
"This whole case has been a disaster for everyone, and on reflection, we shouldn't have touched him [X] as a CHIS," the MI5 officer said.
For the first time, the government has publicly acknowledged the abuse Beth suffered, after years of attempts to undermine her credibility in court.
During the original court battle in 2022, the government sought to cast doubt on the BBC's case, arguing it was based on "foundations that are anything but solid" and raised "real doubt about the reliability, credibility and motivation of Beth."
However, in a new statement to the BBC, a government spokesperson said:
"The abuse suffered by the woman in this case, known as Beth, was abhorrent and we extend our sincere sympathies to her."
MI5's director general, Sir Ken McCallum, apologised for any distress caused by "mistakes in the litigation."
"The use of agents is fundamental to MI5's ability to keep the UK safe. It is difficult, human work that is governed by legislation and tightly overseen by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office (IPCO).
MI5 has procedures to address the risks involved in working with Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS), particularly where there might be individuals at risk of harm, and these have been improved in response to learnings."
Earlier this year, MI5 paid compensation to Beth to settle a human rights claim she brought against them, without admission of legal liability.
In her first interview since the settlement, Beth told the BBC she had been "gaslit" by MI5.
"They can't be trusted because they've already lied in court and painted me out to look a certain way and made me feel like I didn't have a voice or a valid story, but they have now done a 360-degree turn and paid compensation."
When MI5 paid her compensation, Sir Ken McCallum apologised for any distress caused by "mistakes in the litigation," but said these related to "record keeping" and stopped short of apologising directly for how she was portrayed.
Beth's solicitor, Kate Ellis from the Centre for Women's Justice, said:
"The findings of IPCO's 2024 report are nothing short of devastating for MI5. They show, beyond doubt, that MI5 knew of the warning signs that Agent X posed a serious risk to the public – and to women in particular – but continued deploying him, without managing those risks."
"We have seen no evidence that the safety of women was even a consideration that MI5 weighed in the balance, when they chose to recruit this man in spite of his history."
Beth described the experience of fighting the case as "absolutely debilitating at times with the level of trauma and flashbacks it's caused."
"I'd like to see a full apology from MI5 for the ways in which they portrayed me."
Additional reporting by Lorna Acquah
