Beth, Target of Violent Attacks by Paid Informant, Calls for Accountability and Transparency

Beth, the woman at the centre of a scandal in which MI5 admitted providing false evidence to three courts, is calling for the agency to issue a formal public apology.

Her attacker, a former partner and neo-Nazi misogynist, used his position as an MI5 informant to coerce and control her. Despite MI5’s recent “unreserved apology” for its mishandling of the case, Beth insists she deserves an apology directly from them.

Beth explains that she only feels visible to MI5 because she has pursued a legal battle against the agency, shining a light on its actions. “If I were to go away quietly, they would never think about me again,” she told the BBC.

She also insists that X, a foreign national and former MI5 agent, be held personally accountable for the crimes he committed against her. Beth is demanding a full investigation into why MI5 allowed him to escape justice and begin a new life abroad.

The legal case she has filed claims that MI5 violated her human rights by failing to protect her from agent X. She is now seeking resolution through the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), an independent court. Unfortunately, many aspects of the case are being heard in secret, with MI5 citing the principle of “neither confirm nor deny” (NCND) in protecting agent identities.

Beth finds this secrecy deeply offensive, believing it allows MI5 to breach her rights with impunity. She had earlier revealed to the BBC that a senior MI5 officer had admitted to her that X was indeed an agent. This disclosure contradicts MI5’s earlier statements in court, in which the agency denied ever confirming X’s involvement.

MI5’s false evidence includes a 2022 legal battle where the government attempted to prevent the BBC from publishing details about agent X’s actions, successfully blocking the identification of the agent.

Beth believes the agency’s behaviour exposes a pattern of disregard for the rights of individuals, reinforcing her suspicions about MI5’s ruthlessness. “Everything X told me about them has turned out to be true,” she remarked, reflecting on her traumatic experience.

The case continues to unfold as MI5 investigates the false evidence given in court, with the possibility of disciplinary action. The Home Secretary has also initiated an independent review led by Sir Jonathan Jones KC into how the agency handled the case.

For Beth, this ongoing legal struggle has been re-traumatising, but she believes it is the only way to seek justice. “I’ve lost years of my life to X’s abuse,” she explained. “This process is hard, but it may be the only way to get some form of reasonable justice.”

Beth stresses that her case is about more than just her own suffering. She wants it to highlight the wider issue of violence against women, something that, as she says, remains far too prevalent in society.

Beth feels fortunate that her voice has been heard, but she remains deeply concerned about others who don’t have the opportunity to speak out. “I am one of the lucky ones because I’ve been able to speak about it and I’ve been listened to,” she said. “So many women don’t get that chance.”

For further information or to share a similar story with the BBC Investigations team, please contact:

Email: security.investigations@bbc.co.uk
Signal: +447811921399
SecureDrop: Learn more about how to stay secure when sharing information.