`Great-granny spy' not to be prosecuted

London - Ms Melita Norwood, a great-grandmother who spied for Russia for 40 years, will not be prosecuted, the British Solicitor…

London - Ms Melita Norwood, a great-grandmother who spied for Russia for 40 years, will not be prosecuted, the British Solicitor General, Mr Ross Cranston, announced yesterday, writes Rachel Donnelly. Mr Cranston said there was no hope of a successful prosecution against Ms Norwood (87), or four others accused of spying in secret KGB files smuggled out of Russia by the KGB defector, Mr Vasili Mitrokhin.

Ms Norwood had admitted spying for Russia, but the Solicitor General said any prosecution was likely to fail because of the length of time that had passed and nothing she had said in public would be admissible in court.