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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Army spy suspect 'an eccentric' | Army spy suspect 'an eccentric' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An ex-British soldier accused of spying for Iran was "strange and eccentric", his former commanding officer has told the Old Bailey. | An ex-British soldier accused of spying for Iran was "strange and eccentric", his former commanding officer has told the Old Bailey. |
| Daniel James worked for Col John Donnelly on an Afghan officer training programme when he was deployed in 2006. | Daniel James worked for Col John Donnelly on an Afghan officer training programme when he was deployed in 2006. |
| Col Donnelly said his demeanour and unusual dress were not what he would have expected of a corporal. | Col Donnelly said his demeanour and unusual dress were not what he would have expected of a corporal. |
| Mr James, 45, from Brighton, denies two charges under the Official Secrets Act and wilful misconduct in public office. | Mr James, 45, from Brighton, denies two charges under the Official Secrets Act and wilful misconduct in public office. |
| Col Donnelly said: "His interpreting skills were of interest to me rather than his slightly unusual demeanour." His overall demeanour was not what I would have expected of a corporal which is a reasonably low rank Col John Donnelly | |
| He said he had "no complaints" about Mr James, who interpreted in the Dari language spoken by the majority of Afghan officers. | He said he had "no complaints" about Mr James, who interpreted in the Dari language spoken by the majority of Afghan officers. |
| Colonel Donnelly told the court: "His attire wasn't what I would normally have expected of a junior NCO. | |
| "He had a very distinctive and odd sun hat with a cape down the back of his neck and he wore slightly different boots. | |
| "His overall demeanour was not what I would have expected of a corporal which is a reasonably low rank. | |
| "He was quite confident, not overly deferential, but nevertheless respectful. He just didn't behave in a way I would normally have assumed a regular corporal to behave." | |
| Mr James later went on to translate for Gen David Richards, the former UK commander in Afghanistan. | |
| Born in Tehran, he has been described as a "Walter Mitty"-style fantasist who became an agent for Iran. | Born in Tehran, he has been described as a "Walter Mitty"-style fantasist who became an agent for Iran. |
| Mr James, who is a salsa dance instructor, is said to have sent coded messages to the Iranian military attache in Kabul. |