Spy Tells Of Sex Hold By K.g.b. (Press, 25 January 1975)

John Vassal, a former British diplomat, has released an autobiography detailing his coerced involvement as a Communist spy for the Soviet Union. His book, “The Autobiography of a Spy,” published on 24 January 1975, reveals that he was manipulated into espionage after being threatened by Soviet agents with exposure as a homosexual. Vassal, whose father was a clergyman, was stationed at the British Embassy in Moscow where he was entangled in a situation at a homosexual party. There, he was secretly photographed and subsequently blackmailed by the K.G.B., the Soviet secret police, to cooperate with them. For seven years, Vassal provided intelligence, first by spying on his own embassy and later sharing naval secrets upon his return to London, where he worked at the Admiralty. His espionage activities ended with his arrest in 1962, leading to an 18-year prison sentence. Vassal managed to serve 10 years before his release, during which he has now planned to open an antique store using the proceeds from his autobiography. At 57 years old, Vassal describes his journey as that of a “perfect fall guy,” highlighting the degree to which the K.G.B. exploited his vulnerabilities. He noted that British security services had failed to uncover his sexual orientation, making him an easy target for manipulation. The K.G.B. used lavish dinners and friendly overtures to draw him in, ultimately subjecting him to threats of exposure that led him deeper into a web of espionage. Vassal recounted that he was drugged, leaving him confused and vulnerable to manipulation, marking the beginning of his forced cooperation with the K.G.B. Initially, his superiors sought general information, but demands gradually escalated to specific documents, particularly following his employment at the Admiralty. At one point, he contemplated suicide but was prevented from doing so by the K.G.B., indicating the extent of their control over him. Despite the trauma of his experiences, Vassal expressed some reluctance about his captors, referring to them as sophisticated and indicating they did not embarrass him during their interactions. When he was finally arrested, he initially thought he might simply be transferred elsewhere, but instead, he faced a lengthy prison sentence. During his incarceration, he found solace in growing strawberries, a small act of normality amid the extraordinary circumstances of his life as a spy.

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