LONDON: A soldier who worked in “aunique” role for Britain’s top commander in Afghanistan became a spy for Iran after missing out on promotion and suffering what he perceived as racism, a court heard on Monday.

Corporal Daniel James, 45, contacted Iranian officials in Kabul while working in “a very trusted and sensitive position” as interpreter for General David Richards, the British commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan, prosecutors told the Old Bailey.

“The allegation in this case is that during the latter part of 2006, the defendant’s loyalty to this country wavered and his loyalties turned to Iran, the country of his birth,” prosecutor Mark Dennis said.

“He turned his back on those with whom he was serving in Afghanistan and sought to become an agent for a foreign power, and to provide information which would or might be of use to those who were actually engaged in active conflict with the peace-keeping force.”

The court was told James made telephone contact with Colonel Mohammad Hossein Heydari who worked as Iran’s military attaché at its embassy in Kabul and sent him coded messages in emails. “He had access to areas and information that no other soldier of corporal rank ... would have, due to his working alongside the general,” Dennis said.

James was in “a unique position to overhear and glean a good deal of operational or strategic information if he chose to do so,” he said.

“As General Richards himself puts it, the defendant’s value as a hostile intelligence agent to a third party with aims contrary to that of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and the government of Afghanistan cannot be underestimated.” He was arrested in December 2006, a few months after contact had been made. Police found a USB computer memory storage device in his kitbag with confidential documents, including details of military troop movements and knowledge of insurgent activities.