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Shayler heads for the footie

Former secret agent David Shayler has sent a message to his local paper the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette – “See you at the football”.

The devoted Boro’ fan arrived back in Dover on Monday was taken to Charing Cross police station in central London where he was charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act before being released on bail.

Shayler, whose family are originally from Teesside, is a life-long fan and will watch the team take on Leeds on Saturday before holding a party in the town to say thank you to family, friends and supporters.

Shayler has been living in Paris since he fled the country in 1997, after claiming MI6 had plotted to assassinate Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi.

The Gazette has stayed in touch with the ex-MI5 officer during his exile and have sent staff over to Paris to interview him.

In March, HoldTheFrontPage reported that Gazette reporter Peter Harris had scooped the nationals after Shayler confessed to him that a story about him visiting Middlesbrough to watch his team play Coventry was a spoof. To read that earlier story in full click here.

Brother Phil Shayler told the Gazette this week that his parents and other brother Jeremy were also huge Boro’ supporters.

“We are all season ticket holders, including our parents,” he said. “We will definitely be there for the Leeds match on Saturday”.

Speaking at a press conference in Calais, David Shayler said he was returning home with his head held high.

“I am going back on my own terms and in a position of strength,” he said.

“The Government has refused all along to investigate the Gaddafi plot because they knew I would be vindicated.”

He said the revelations he had made during his three years on the run were in the public interest and did not damage national security.

“I did what I did because I love my country.”

Shayler recently revealed in the Gazette that he intends to campaign in a Boro’ shirt against Tony Blair in his Sedgefield constituency at the next General Election – possibly as early as next May.

Shayler is now staying with his family at his brother’s home in Wimbledon, south-west London, ahead of his appearance at Bow Street Magistrates Court on Thursday.

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