Cleaner charged with police station thefts

A contract cleaner has been accused of stealing valuables from officers at a police station.

Ogonnaya Chukwu, 37, was arrested by officers investigating thefts at Marylebone Police Station in central London.

Items including electronics, clothes and jewellery worth almost £1,200 were reported missing from a locker room over more than two years.

Among the stolen goods were a mobile phone, Puma watch, several iPods, a bicycle light, electric fan, suit carrier, torch and a coat with a knife in the pocket.

Chukwu, of St George's Road, Camberwell, was arrested at Marylebone Police Station on April 12 and released on bail.

He was an employee of Interserve which has a £150 million contract to clean almost 300 police stations across 32 boroughs in the capital.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said Chukwu had been charged with nine counts of theft and one count under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

He is also accused of stealing footwear, stationery, computer equipment and cameras from the Metropolitan Police.

A City of Westminster magistrates' court spokesman said Chukwu would appear in court later today. An Interserve spokesman said he was not aware of the case.