Buckingham Palace catering assistant admits stealing items worth $ 135,000

A catering assistant at Buckingham Palace has pleaded guilty to stealing photos and medals from the Queen's official London residence.

Adamo Canto, 37, admitted three counts of theft between 11 November last year and 7 August this year, at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

A "significant quantity" of stolen items were recovered by police from his quarters in the Royal Mews at the palace, where he had worked as a catering assistant since 2015.

Some of the goods, worth £100,000 ($ 135,000), which included two prestigious medals, were listed for sale on eBay, prosecutor Simon Maughan said.

Canto, from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, had taken advantage of the coronavirus lockdown and was given a cleaning role that allowed him access to more areas of the palace than he would usually have, Mr Maughan added.

A £1,500 royal state banquet photo album of President Donald Trump's UK visit was the most expensive item he stole.

He had also taken official signed photos of Prince Harry, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.