'Breakdown' led man to sell defence secrets

The wife of a defence worker who tried to sell warfare secrets to the Russians has blamed a mental breakdown for his actions. Ian Parr, 46, from Rochford, Essex, faces a lengthy prison sentence after admitting his guilt.

Christine Parr said yesterday there was "absolutely no way" she would have believed he would commit such a crime. "He has very high morals and is law-abiding and he's never done anything criminally wrong in his life," she said. "All I can say is that he had a breakdown."

Parr was trapped when he handed documents to a Security Service operative posing as a Russian agent.

He had arranged to sell material on seven projects for £130,000. He had copied it from BAE Systems Avionics, of Basildon, Essex, where he had worked as an electronics engineer for 15 years.

Parr pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday to two charges under the Official Secrets Act and seven counts of theft. He was remanded in custody until 20 January for sentencing.