Australia’s top spy agency, ASIO, confirmed last night that it had discovered a moll within its ranks who had leaked top-secret information about problems with the country’s crucial Scud missile project, code-named Delta.

The high-profile project has gained considerable publicity recently, with some experts blaming ASIO’s Delta for the Scud’s failure to fire in a crucial set of tests.

ASIO chief Dennis Richardson said the agency believed it had tracked down the moll but refused to reveal her identity.

“I’m really not at liberty to reveal the moll’s name or identity at this stage,” he said. “To protect her identity, we’ve given her the code-name Paris.”

He said Paris had all the typical attributes of a moll. “Paris attracted our attention after we noticed she had dated pretty much every guy in the office in the past year.”

Mr Richardson revealed that the moll may even have had access to the inner workings of the Scud.

“We’re really not sure at this stage but we believe Paris’ effect may have directly impacted on the Scud’s misfires, which really infuriated Delta people at the time,” he said.

Paris’ leaks, some of which made it into the media, had caused “significant damage” to the Delta Scud program, Mr Richardson said.

“Look, we’re doing our best to keep this project on track but it turns out we’ve had a moll working against us the entire time,” he said. “I just hope she doesn’t put a permanent divide between the Delta team and their Scuds.”

A source close to the ASIO moll, speaking exclusively to The Daily Ripper, says she never meant to hurt anyone.

“Paris was just having a bit of fun - she never really expected it would come to this,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

The source confirmed that Paris had indeed worked very closely with the Scud program.

“The moll had good access. There wasn’t anything Delta did to the Scud that we didn’t hear about.”