London, Oct 14: A British soldier became a spy for Iran after becoming angry at being passed over for promotion and what he perceived as racial discriminati on, a court heard on Monday.

Corporal Daniel James, 45, contacted Iranian officials in Kabul while working as an 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."

James made telephone contact with a colonel working as Iran`s military attache at Iranian embassy in Kabul and sent him a coded message in email, the court was told. He was arrested in December 2006.

Bureau Report