'I was stunned when cops burst into my home and arrested my ugly but charming boyfriend'

The Old Bailey heard however Vanya Gaberova, 30, was with Biser Dzhambazov, 43, contempt him having lied astir having crab but did not uncertainty his communicative of being an Interpol officer

A beautician was near shocked erstwhile constabulary burst into her location and arrested her “ugly but charming” person for spying for Russia.

Vanya Gaberova, 30, and charming Biser Dzhambazov, 43, stayed successful five-star hotels successful Spain, dined astatine Michelin-starred restaurants, and went clubbing during surveillance operations. Despite uncovering retired Dzhambazov lied astir having cancer and splitting up with his spouse Gaberova told jurors she ne'er doubted his screen communicative of being an Interpol constabulary officer.

When officers turned up astatine her location successful Euston, northbound London, to apprehension him for spying, she demanded to cognize what helium had done, the Old Bailey heard. Gaberova said: “I was truthful scared, shocked. I asked him what had helium done, wherefore these radical were there. I didn’t cognize what was going on. I couldn’t judge what these radical were talking about. I asked my fellow ‘What person you done?'”

Defence barrister Anthony Metzer asked: “Were you knowingly portion of immoderate statement to spy for Russia?” She answered: “No.” Dzhambazov and Orlin Roussev, 46, person admitted plotting to spy for Russia betwixt 2020 and 2023. Fellow Bulgarians Gaberova, Ivanchev and Ivanova person denied involvement.

Earlier, Gaberova’s turbulent narration with Dzhambazov was laid bare successful substance messages from January 2023. In them, Gaberova told him she respected herself excessively overmuch to “let idiosyncratic dainty maine similar that”. At the time, she suspected helium had lied astir having encephalon crab attraction abroad, aft a tracker connected a keyring successful his container placed him astatine enactment arsenic a aesculapian courier nearby, jurors heard.

Mr Mezter said: “It seems the narration is over. How was it connected the time of your apprehension helium is bare successful your bed?” Gaberova said Dzhambazov had called her repeatedly and went to her salon wanting to travel cleanable astir what helium was “hiding”. She said: “I met him and helium says he’s ever been surviving with Ms Ivanova.

"He lied to me, thing changed, he’s been sleeping connected the sofa each the time. He besides says immoderate atrocious things astir her. Then helium told maine country has been palmy but I didn’t privation to listen. Then helium started to cry.”

During the tearful conversation, helium offered to springiness her the aboriginal she wanted, the tribunal was told. After that, she fto him enactment astatine her home, but that did not mean she had forgiven him, the suspect said. Gaberova added that Dzhambazov ever slept bare and that was not a motion that “something happened”.

Mr Metzer went on: “The assemblage whitethorn privation to know, if you had doubts astir his honesty, doubts astir him having crab and whether helium was faithful to you, wherefore did you person nary equivalent doubts helium was telling the information to you astir being an Interpol constabulary officer?”

Gaberova replied: “I ne'er had immoderate doubts successful narration to that. Why I should have? In that concern I saw him with different girl… I called the infirmary erstwhile helium told maine helium was successful infirmary and nary of this was true. He didn’t springiness maine crushed not to judge astir the job.”

She added she thought Dzhambazov’s fake Interpol badge and paper were genuine. Gaberova denied she had manipulated her ex-boyfriend Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, and ruined his beingness by entangling him successful Dzhambazov’s surveillance. She told jurors: “I conscionable asked him what Biser asked me. I didn’t accidental to him you person to bash it.”

Cross-examining for Ivanchev, Mozammel Hossain KC asserted Gaberova had been “obsessed” with Dzhambazov. He pointed retired Ivanchev had been 3rd successful the satellite arsenic an unfastened h2o swimmer and worked hard arsenic a creator and decorator successful London. Mr Hossain said: “That antheral utilized to enactment 7 days a week. Your imagination astatine that clip – you are the eyelash queen – you wanted to acceptable up a salon. He paid for it.

“He took a £25,000 loan. I enactment it to you it’s £30,000 altogether. He didn’t privation anything, you were the manager of the shop. Not lone did helium bash that for you, madam, helium loved you truthful much, helium did each the enactment successful the shop, the painting.” The suspect agreed. Mr Hossain said: “If it were not for that antheral (Dzhambazov) you would inactive beryllium unneurotic today.” Gaberova replied: “I can’t say.”

Mr Hossain suggested Ivanchev had been near “heartbroken” erstwhile Gaberova near him for a antheral who offered her a “better life”. He suggested: “You near him for a transgression who lied to you. You near him for a antheral who offered you a amended beingness than your salon. He showed you a beingness of luxury. You stayed with him astatine a Valencia edifice with 5 stars, ate astatine Michelin prima restaurants, spell clubbing. The ‘ugly man’, arsenic you called him, offered you a amended life?”

The suspect remained silent.

The Old Bailey proceedings continues.