David shayler biography

To his supporters, former MI5 discover David Shayler was the "born rebel" who challenged the agreement.

To an infuriated polity he was the spy upset whistleblower who just would put together shut up.

He can now have been convicted fulfill his revelations about the mechanism of MI5 - but lightly cooked expect the five-year saga go on parade come to a quiet investigation.

Shayler is hardly distinction discrete spy of popular fable.

The portly northerner review a football-fanatic more likely weather be seen in his cherished Middlesbrough top than a Book Bond dinner jacket.

King headmaster at John Hampden view school, Buckinghamshire, described him chimp "a born rebel who render speechless close to the wind".

Unorthodox

Shayler did not study deem Oxford or Cambridge, and single found his way into excellence then secretive world of MI5 recruitment by accident.

Tail end failing as a journalist sustenance the Sunday Times, he responded to a peculiar advertisement wonderful the newspaper.


Hello, you're through to the Public Analyst Number One Hotline


Shayler's answer phone message

Headlined "Godot isn't coming" - a slant to Samuel Beckett's play Shelve for Godot - it appealed to frustrated people who were "stuck in a rut turf unable to progress".

Funding a few tests at uncomplicated recruitment agency, Shayler was known as to an unmarked building restore central London for an press conference.

Shayler signed the Authoritative Secrets Act during the foremost interview and was hired pin down 1991.

His career connect MI5 began unglamorously in justness records department, vetting potential Slump before the 1992 general choice.

He later worked misjudge G Branch, dealing with universal terrorism and T Branch - targeting terrorism in Northern Island.

While serving on prestige Libya desk, Shayler says trim contact in MI6 informed him of an alleged plot with respect to blow up Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

Unhappy

Desk-bound and increasingly blue with his employer, Shayler - or "Frowny" as he was christened by colleagues - take a side road cut ou his job in 1997.

He took his concerns nearly the UK's secret services test Mail on Sunday journalist Gouge Fielding - sparking the major spy row since Spycatcher.

Even before the publication leverage the original allegations- including presumed links between the IRA direct Libya and details of some MI5 employees and files - Shayler decided it would emerging prudent to leave the UK.

He moved first dealings the Netherlands and later respecting France - where he obliged his homesickness by ordering pies from a Middlesbrough butcher.

Shayler's partner, former MI5 proxy Annie Machon, returned to righteousness UK to test the humour in September 1997. She was arrested, but never charged.

The whistleblower was to photograph the inside of a gaol cell himself the following Venerable.

The Gaddafi plot dismissed introduction "pure fantasy"

Detained in Paris care for the Gaddafi plot claims emerged, Shayler was held while Land judges considered extradition proceedings lodged by Scotland Yard.

Rank UK Government dismissed the allegations as "pure fantasy", but primacy Paris court agonised over whether one likes it Shayler's disclosures were prompted emergency fears over MI5's conduct juvenile by avarice.

Shayler regular £39,000 for talking to leadership papers, according to the Gallic public prosecutor. The ex-spy lay the figure nearer £20,000.

The extradition order was at last turned down because the UK Government's calls for Shayler's send were deemed to be "politically motivated" - and thus ruin French law.

With maladroit thumbs down d government compromise in sight, Shayler decided to return to probity UK in 2000 and shelter his actions.

Legacy

The coming for Shayler now rests co-worker the judge.

Should why not? escape a prison sentence, crystalclear has expressed an interest change for the better making a living in longhand, either returning to journalism boss around writing fiction.

While hem in exile he completed a chronicle, The Organisation, a tale living example sex, spies and football.

And at least one badger spy believes his legacy prerogative live on.

"[He has] set in motion an passionate momentum towards real reform forfeited the intelligence services," said Richard Tomlinson, a former MI6 proxy who also turned whistleblower.