Career
James was formerly the interpreter and sometimes driver for British Army Lieutenant-General Sir David Richards, who commanded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Afghanistan. James speaks fluent Pashtun and Persian. He is thought to have passed information to Iran about British activities in Helmand Province.
Danny used to run the Club New York (a salsa and hip-hop club) in Brighton opposite Churchill Square.
He would teach salsa at this club James" charges were read in the City of Westminster Magistrates" Court in London and was charged under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Acting 1911.
Action was taken very quickly, so that the then Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, had not approved the prosecution before James was told of the charge. In November 2008 he was found guilty by a jury of spying for Iran on a charge of "communicating information useful to an enemy", and sentenced to ten years imprisonment.
The jury failed to agree verdicts on two other charges relating to his possession of sensitive documents on a USB memory stick, and of misconduct in a public office, and these charges were left on the table.
