MI5 knew agent was misogynist 'obsessed' with violence, watchdog finds

Image caption, Agent X had used his status to coercively control his then girlfriend, including attacking her with a machete By Daniel De Simone Investigations correspondent Published 3 minutes ago A secret inquiry by MI5's watchdog concluded the security service knew an abusive agent it defended in court was a misogynist who was "obsessed" with violence, the BBC can reveal. The inquiry took place after BBC News originally exposed how MI5 had covered up for the man - a neo-Nazi informant known publicly as Agent X. The government took the BBC to court in 2022 in a failed attempt to block our investigation, but it won Agent X legal anonymity That year, the BBC first reported how the MI5 spy had used his status to coercively control his girlfriend, including attacking her with a machete, before moving abroad to continue intelligence work while he was still under investigation. Following that investigation, the office of the investigatory powers commissioner (IPCO) Sir Brian Leveson launched an inquiry, which - like much of IPCO's work - was secret. Details of the inquiry can now be reported for the first time. In response to the new revelations, the spy's former partner, known as Beth, told the BBC: "I'd like to see a full apology for the fact that MI5 actually were willing to use somebody like X and the fact they were aware of his abuse towards me and they did nothing at all." 'Openly misogynistic' with MI5 handlers IPCO - which oversees the use of covert investigatory powers, including the UK's intelligence agencies - concluded: - "Strong indications" of Agent X's interest in violence, including video footage of him threatening his girlfriend with a machete, did not lead to an MI5 review of his suitability of as an agent. IPCO said it "should have done" - Agent X was "openly misogynistic" with his MI5 handlers, who knew he was involved with a "pick up artistry" movement that seeks to exploit women for sex, but "none of this attracted much attention" from the handlers - MI5 knew Agent X was "obsessed" with violence, because he told them, and there were indications he might be a threat to others "arising from his general interest in extreme violence". But IPCO said there was a "lack of sufficient professional curiosity" about him by MI5. In a statement to the BBC, IPCO said its inspection "identified serious failings in MI5's management of Agent X" and it "required MI5 to take action to address these failings". IPCO added: "MI5 subsequently made significant changes to its policies, practices and procedures, which have been tested at subsequent inspections. "MI5's work in this area is ongoing and IPCO will continue to supervise this through its rigorous inspection programme." Image caption, "I'd like to see a full apology from MI5 for the ways in which they portrayed me," said the spy's former partner, known as Beth During its inspection, which concluded in 2024, MI5 misled IPCO about having maintained its core "neither confirm nor deny" secrecy poli