An alleged Chinese spy who forged a close relationship with Prince Andrew has been identified by a British court, the latest twist in a case that has shone a light on Beijing’s influence inside Britain’s institutions.

The businessman claimed he had been excluded from seeing most of the evidence that was used against him by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) which had reviewed his exclusion order from the UK by the Home Office last year on espionage charges.

A Chinese national with close links to Prince Andrew said he had done nothing wrong and was not a spy, after the businessman was named in court as being a suspected Chinese agent by the British authorities.