Colchester man won't face trial after alleged blackmail plot involving UAE ambassador
Lee Hurford and Dean Manister were alleged to have tried to extort £3m from an official representing the Gulf country.
Two men will not face trial for allegedly plotting to blackmail the UAE ambassador to London, a court heard.
Lee Hurford, 49, and Dean Manister, 51, were alleged to have tried to squeeze £3 million from the official after a theft from the embassy in London in September 2018, Southwark Crown Court heard on Monday.
However prosecutors chose not to pursue the charge, the court heard.
Hurford, of Leeds, admitted stealing "large amounts" of money in pounds sterling, dollars, euros, and Saudi currency as well as confidential embassy documents, an identity card, paperwork, and receipts on September 14 and 15.
He also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted theft.
His accomplice, Dean Manister, of Colchester, Essex, pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting theft and one count of aiding and abetting attempted theft.
At what was meant to be the first day of their trial, prosecutors brought no evidence for a charge of burglary faced by Hurford, as well as charges of handling stolen goods and aiding and abetting burglary faced by Manister, for which not guilty pleas were recorded.
The charge of blackmail was left to lie on file.
The pair are due to be sentenced in June.