AN OXFORD University professor has spoken of his shock after one of his contacts was accused of being a Russian spy.

Prof Rafael Ramirez said he had been regularly contacted by Donald Heathfield — one of 10 people arrested in the USA on suspicion of being part of a Russian spy ring. The professor, who knew Heathfield through the Oxford Futures Forum, which encourages eminent thinkers to come together and discuss how to best plan for the future, said he had no idea about his alleged background.

He said last night: “He came across as quite an aggressive American entrepreneur, trying to work internationally. I’m either very, very bad at second-guessing who is a Russian spy, or he hid it very well. I certainly never thought of that possibility until somebody told me.”