A 44-year-old man who attempted to walk into Buckingham Palace with a knife was sentenced today to 16 months in jail.

On Monday 14 October 2013, David Belmar was arrested as he attempted to enter Buckingham Palace via the north centre gate. He was immediately apprehended by police and when searched was found to be in possession of a knife, which was seized.

He was arrested on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site (contrary to Section 128 of the serious Organised Crime & Police Act 2005) and possession of a bladed/pointed article.

A security alert was sparked at the palace the previous month when a suspected burglar managed to get into the building after scaling a fence.

He was found at around 10.30pm on 2 September in a room that had been open to the public during the day. A second man was arrested outside the palace on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Less than 48 hours later, amid heightened security, two police officers confronted the Duke of York in the palace gardens and demanded to know who he was.

Scotland Yard later issued a public apology. Prince Andrew accepted the apology and said he was conscious of the problems officers face.