Former bomber pilot gaoled

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33963, 2 October 1975, Page 15

Former bomber pilot gaoled

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MOLD (Wales), October 1

A former British nuclear bomber pilot, Alistair Steadman, aged 34, was imprisoned for nine years yesterday for trying to sell military secrets to the Soviet Union.

Steadman had been found guilty in the Mold Crown Court on one charge of attempting to pass secrets to the Soviet Union and three of preparing information useful to an enemy. A married man with two children, Steadman was formerly a Royal Air Force flight lieutenant flying Vulcan aircraft assigned to N.A.T.O.

The Attorney-General (Mr Samuel Silkin) said during the trial that Steadman intended to pass information about targets, attack systems, and weapons which would have caused the gravest possible harm in enemy hands, but was rebuffed by the Russians, who said that his information was out of date. Steadman’s defence was that he went to the Soviet Union consulate in London in search of a job. He alleged that the lives of himself, his wife, and children had been threatened by the Russians.

The press and public were excluded from the courtroom during part of the seven-day trial because of the sensitivity of some evidence.

Steadman was asked to resign from the R.A.F. a year ago, when his wild financial dealings came to the notice of his senior officers. He then offered his services to Arab, African, and the Rhodesian Governments as a mercenary pilot, but was turned down.