A former removal company worker stole more than £15,000 from ex-BBC chief Lord John Birt after breaking into his Westminster office.

Glen Marshall, 53, from Edmonton, used his security pass to enter Millbank House and steal valuable items from a locked drawer - a Mont Blanc pen, around £215 in cash and three cheques in the name of Lord Birt.

He used the cheques to pay £15,000 into his own account.

Marshall was a supervisor at Premier Movers and had access to a number of buildings in Westminster, including the grade II listed building with government offices and media studios.

He left the company in May and his pass should have been cancelled. Three days later, between May 24 and 28, he burgled Lord Birt's office.

Enfield Independent:

Glen Marshall at the fire entrance of Millbank. Photo: CPS

Only £5,600 was recovered from Marshall's bank account.

Marshall pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and three counts of fraud and was sentenced to a community order and 50 days of rehab yesterday (Monday, November 4) at Southwark Crown Court.

The court has also set a timetable for confiscation to recover all the money stolen.

Christian Meikle, from the CPS, said: “Glen Marshall saw an opportunity to steal and he took it.

“He capitalised on his access to Millbank House to commit a large-scale burglary in a high-profile setting.

“The overwhelming CCTV evidence showing Marshall entering and leaving the building in broad daylight, as well as further CCTV of him at banks and ATMs cashing in on the money, meant that he had little choice but to plead guilty.

“Marshall had a previously untarnished employment record and had been an honest employee for well over a decade before he burgled Millbank House. He will now have to face up to the consequences of his actions with future employment opportunities.”