Derren Brown's cleaner admits stealing cheques

A cleaner has admitted stealing cheques from illusionist Derren Brown. Rocio Pavon-Navarrete took the two signed cheques from Brown's home while he was away. She broke down in tears after pleading guilty to the offence at Southwark Crown Court. Judge David Higgins adjourned her case until October 11 for pre-sentence reports. He said: "Whilst I have adjourned for a pre-sentence report, indeed a high probability remains that she will be sentenced to immediate custody given that which is obviously the grossest breach of confidence." He added: "I wish her to have no illusions about what the future is likely to hold given the very serious criminality to which she has pleaded guilty." Pavon-Navarrete, 47, of Bardsley Lane, Greenwich, was bailed until the sentencing hearing. Co-accused Bernard Ayanbanjo will go on trial later today over allegations he received the cheques - worth £21,550.35 and £11,500 - from Pavon-Navarrete and paid them into his own bank account between October and December 2010. Ayanbanjo, 48, of Waverley Road, Woolwich, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of fraud. Brown sat in the public gallery as the jury was sworn in for Ayanbanjo's trial.

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.