LONDON, Feb 4 (AFP) - A conman who impersonated a police officer to escort close friends of Princes William and Harry into Windsor Castle was sentenced Friday to four-and-a-half years in prison.
Michael Hammond, 36, was arrested in May last year after being waved into the grounds of the British royal family's weekend residence, just west of London.
None of the royals were at the palace at the time, but the breach caused a major embarrassment as it happened 12 days after an in-depth review of security.
Isleworth crown court in southwest London heard that Hammond had more than 100 previous convictions, including scores for fraud and deception, as well as two for impersonating a police officer.
To gain access to Windsor Castle, Hammond telephoned police inside in advance, claiming to be a genuine senior officer and saying he would accompany friends of William and Harry, the sons of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana.
Arriving dressed in torn jeans and a jumper at the private Henry VIII gate, usually reserved for the royal family, Hammond and a friend were let through and only arrested when spotted later on a surveillance camera.
"He was the type of person who would blag his way into a party, go up and put his arm around the principal guy or girl, get his photograph taken by the paparazzi and claim he knew them or was having a relationship with them," case officer Sergeant Neil John said outside the court.
"He's the most professional conman I have ever come across," he said.
02/04/2005 23:43 GMT - AFP