Sex, Spies and Scandal: The John Vassall Affair

Sex, Spies and Scandal: The John Vassall Affair

Archived Event

Local author Alex Grant talks about his new book which sheds new light on a Soviet spy scandal that rocked early 1960s Britain.

Local author Alex Grant talks about his new book which sheds new light on a Soviet spy scandal that rocked early 1960s Britain. John Vassall, an Admiralty clerk, was photographed in compromising positions while working at the British embassy in Moscow in 1954, and then blackmailed into handing over defence secrets to his Soviet handlers for more than seven years.

Despite having been drugged and then raped by the KGB in Moscow, as a gay man John Vassall was shown no mercy by the British press, or the courts after his arrest in 1962. Sentenced to eighteen years in jail, he served ten years despite telling MI5 everything about his spying. 

With access to newly released MI5 files, this is an explosive tale of sexual violence, betrayal, conspiracy, snobbery, homophobia and hypocrisy that blows open some of the British establishment’s darkest secrets. The Vassall affair also has an intriguing connection to the Stamford area....

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Important Information

Venue: Stamford Arts Centre, Theatre

Tickets: £6 standard

Running Time: 80 minutes

Suitable for ages 16+

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