3:04am Friday 21st March 2008
By Newsdesk
A man accused of being a Russian spy has said the claims have ruined his life.
Peter Hill, 23, spoke out after the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he will not face trial on explosives charges because there was insufficient evidence to offer a "realistic prospect" of a conviction.
This comes a month after it was announced Mr Hill was not set to face charges under the official Secrets Act after being arrested during an undercover operation in November.
Mr Hill had been detained for allegedly trying to sell military information to the Russians. He was bailed under the allegations but charged under the Explosives Act after items were seized from where he was living in Lambert Street, Skipton.
The former Territorial Army officer-cadet said he believed that he had been set up by the authorities, who had approached him and offered him £6,000 for documents. He said he had no idea why they had contacted him and did not have any military documents with him when he was arrested in Leeds.
Mr Hill said: "I was innocent all along and they have dropped the charges because there was insufficient evidence against me. Obviously I am very relieved but I have lost six months of my life. I lost my job, my house and almost my relationship with my girlfriend.
"The Government and MI5 tried to stitch me up and the explosive charge was a reserve charge in case the first one did not stand up. The items they found were weed killer and sugar which could be found in anyone's house."
Mr Hill, who had worked at Skipton Building Society, said bail conditions had meant that he had been under virtual house arrest at his parents' home in Lancashire.
The former Clitheroe Grammar School student said: "I was always worrying about whether MI5 was following me. They gained access to my email and probably tapped my phone."
Mr Hill was first arrested last November under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 and following police searches, material was allegedly found that led to him being charged under Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.
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