A MAN has appeared in court accused of burgling cash and documents, and orchestrating a £3million blackmail plot for the return of sensitive items.

Lee Hurford, 48, is accused of stealing cash in pounds sterling, dollars, the euro and Saudi currencies from United Arab Emirates’ London embassy between September 14 and 15 2018.

He was allegedly assisted by his co-defendant, 50-year-old Dean Manister, from Colchester.

Hurford is further accused of stealing paperwork, documents, receipts and an identity card.

The 48-year-old, of Rawdon, Leeds, appeared at Southwark Crown Court today where he denied two counts of theft, one count of burglary and one count of conspiracy to blackmail.

Manister denied one count of aiding and abetting burglary, one count of handling stolen goods and one charge of conspiracy to blackmail.

The men appeared at the hearing by video link, where a two-week trial was set for April 4, 2022.

The pair were granted bail on the condition they do not contact one another or anyone who works at the UAE embassy, they were also told to surrender their passports, and live and sleep at their home address.

They were also barred from applying for any international travel documents.