Lambeth Fire Station burglar jailed

Gabriel Akwuba, 44, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to one count of burglary.

Akwuba broke into Lambeth Fire Station at the former fire brigade headquarters on the Albert Embankment on 5 November 2009 at about 5.30pm.

Police were called when fire brigade staff found Akwuba in the building in an area not open to the public.

As officers were questioning Akwuba, two female staff members interrupted to say that someone had broken into their rooms and taken property.

At this point, Akwuba tried to escape but was detained by several fire officers. Akwuba produced the missing items and admitted to stealing them.

He was arrested and on the following day charged and remanded in custody.

The court heard that Akwuba was first convicted in 1981 and has a record of 45 offences, 25 of them burglary; others are for assault, robbery, handling stolen goods and indecent exposure.

There are plans to redevelop the former London Fire Brigade headquarters with new housing under the Florian Place name. Lambeth Fire Station would be incorporated into the new development.