Ex-marine embassy raid for ‘national security’

A former Royal Marine claimed he stole cash and confidential documents from the United Arab Emirates embassy for “national security” reasons, a court has heard.

Lee Hurford, 49, worked as a close protection officer for the country’s ambassador to the UK. Co-defendant Dean Manister, 51, was the embassy’s head of security and arranged for Hurford to work a night security shift, Southwark Crown Court heard. Hurford was the only person in the building when he raided two safes.

Judge Martin Griffith sentenced Hurford to 21 months and Manister to two years yesterday, with both prison terms suspended for two years.