MI5 accepts it gave evidence based on lies in neo-Nazi spy case

MI5 accepts it gave evidence based on lies in neo-Nazi spy case. He said "MI5 accepts without reservation" the findings of a damning report which concluded that it gave evidence based on "lies" about having kept to its core secrecy policy – known as 'neither confirm nor deny' (NCND) – about the agent status of the neo-Nazi informant.

What happened

Image caption, The case centres around a BBC investigation over how an MI5 agent used his role to abuse his girlfriendByDaniel De SimoneInvestigations correspondentPublished18 September 2026, 11:08 BSTUpdated 32 minutes agoThe security service has accepted it gave evidence based on lies to three courts and that senior MI5 officers were repeatedly dishonest. It is the first time MI5 has confirmed the BBC's revelation that it gave evidence based on lies in court. How I exposed MI5's lie about its violent abusive agentPublished12 February 2025MI5 court evidence based on lies, report saysPublished16 JulyThe report, by then-deputy investigatory powers commissioner Sir John Goldring, found that one senior MI5 spy – known as Officer 2 – lied repeatedly, while another – Officer 3 – misled his own colleagues and lied about what he was told.

It is the first time MI5 has accepted that lies were told to the courts while defending a violent neo-Nazi spy whose abuse was uncovered by the BBC. Jude Bunting KC said providing false evidence was "a particularly serious affront to the administration of justice" and noted that while MI5 now offered a sincere apology to the court, its response when the lies were first exposed was "not consistent with transparency or responsibility". Image caption, X physically and sexually abused Beth, attacking her with a macheteThe case centres around the foreign neo-Nazi misogynist – an MI5 informant known as Agent X who used his security service role as a tool of abuse.

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The wider picture

The lies were revealed by the BBC in February 2025, which the security service then vehemently denied. A panel of three senior judges – England and Wales' most senior judge, Lady Chief Justice Baroness Sue Carr, President of the King's Bench Division Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Chamberlain – is considering what action to take over the false evidence. He also found there were "serious and systemic failures in MI5's conduct" throughout the case.

Otty said MI5 "fully accepts and acknowledges the gravity of the issues raised" in the report, published in July, and they must never happen again. He said the evidence presented by Sir John fell short of the threshold for contempt of court, and said such proceedings would not be in the public interest because there had already been a thorough investigation. This meant Beth and everyone else was banned from ever officially being told X was an agent and denied access to the key evidence.

She was left at a serious disadvantage and may have lost the case. MI5 aggressively maintained its position that its NCND policy had been maintained until I produced evidence proving it was untrue, including a recording of one of the calls with Officer 2.

What has been reported

Because of the BBC's revelations, two official inquiries took place which absolved MI5 and its officers of deliberate wrongdoing, claiming the false evidence was down to mistakes and poor memories. 5k views Mabuyane hit with punitive costs order in contempt of court case 5. Timothy Otty KC, representing MI5, announced the position during a High Court hearing in London on Friday. The security service claimed it had maintained NCND and, consequently, the courts allowed it to keep information secret from a woman who was abused by him.

The security service had in fact disclosed the man's agent status in phone calls to me, as it tried to persuade me not to investigate him in 2020. In particular, it will decide whether to initiate contempt of court proceedings against certain MI5 officers or MI5 itself. He added that MI5 had committed to a major programme of reform under the leadership of director general Sir Ken McCallum. Otty argued against contempt proceedings being brought, saying it would not be in the public interest given Sir John's detailed investigation, MI5's apologies, and its commitment to a programme of reform.

What happens next

He said Officer 2 had resigned from the service and that Officer 3 had been suspended and was facing disciplinary proceedings, which could lead to his dismissal. Lawyers for both officers also argued against launching contempt proceedings. Matthew Butt KC, for Officer 2, said said the officer accepted that his conduct had fallen "below the standard expected of him", for which he apologised and expressed regret. But he said he denied acting dishonestly or having interfered with the administration of justice, and did not accept the report's findings.

Aaron Watkins apologised on behalf of Officer 3 and accepted his conduct "undoubtably" contributed to the courts and parties involved being misled, but denied it had been the result of dishonesty. Meanwhile, lawyers for the BBC said the corporation considered the threshold had been met and said there was a "very clear public interest" in doing so. He coercively controlled his partner, known by the alias Beth, and attacked her with a machete.

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across bbc.co.uk, sabcnews.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.