Ross Cassidy, addressing the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry in London, said Mr Skripal and his family moved in next door in Salisbury, Wilts, in 2010 and they quickly became good friends.
The haulage contractor and exRoyal Navy sailor said they would discuss his time in Russia, including his armed forces service.
He was shown his statement which read: "Sergei...would sometimes tell us he was in the military, starting off in airborne troops and ended up that he was a diplomat.
Reprisals
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"Getting harder to feed the nation"
FOURTH generation farmer Charlie Harper has said it is getting \"harder and harder\" to produce food for the nation with the sector under attack from the Government.
Fight to clear mud as new deluge looms
THE big clean-up started yesterday after Storm Bert brought chaos - but forecasters warned of more downpours and flooding.
Davina: I'm on the mend...and being cared for by the best boyfriend ever
But brain-op star admits her memory's 'a bit remiss'
Farewell to Grande Dame of blockbusters...91 million books sold and counting
BESTSELLING novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, who took the world by storm when she wrote A Woman of Substance, has died aged 91.
Growing numbers of single women have IVF treatment
MORE than one in 20 IVF treatments in the UK are given to single women, figures show.
'You support a death cult? You and your friend Esther Rantzen'
THE ugly moment when an assisted dying opponent confronts campaigner Jonathan Dimbleby is captured in a new Daily Express documentary film.
We'll end scourge of spiking drinks
SIR Keir Starmer has insisted spiking will be made a specific criminal offence despite a backlash over the plans.
Fears over inflation rise
RISING inflation is more concerning than whether interest rates should be cut, the Bank of England's number two has warned.
Kate set to welcome Emir for state visit
THE Princess of Wales will play a key role in a state visit by The Emir of Qatar next week.
BANK HOLIDAY THANK YOU TO NATION'S HEROES
BRITAIN will say thank you to the Greatest Generation with bonus bank holidays to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
