Security guard who protected Gordon Brown was illegal immigrant

Gordon Brown was guarded by an illegal immigrant

Marouane Bourannane, who is Algerian, was arrested by Special Branch officers after he applied to work at the Conservative conference in Blackpool.

It then emerged that, just days earlier, he had been working at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.

After being 'vetted' by his security firm, the 35-year-old was able to pose for a photograph with the Prime Minister taken on his mobile phone camera, the court was told.

The alleged security lapse was exposed yesterday when Bourannane, of Beckenham, Kent, appeared before Blackpool magistrates.

He was charged with possession of a false document - a French passport in the name of Mohammed El Mir.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on October 18.

The court heard how Bourannane was trapped by a 'keen-eyed' Special Branch officer as he prepared to sign on for work as a security officer at the Conservative Party conference.

Defending, Paul Robinson told magistrates that the Algerian would plead guilty when he appears at Crown Court.

Mr Robinson said Bourannane had worked for the ministry of finance in Algeria but fled five years ago when his life was threatened by terrorists.

He came to England via France, having obtained a false French passport, and was vetted before starting work for G4S - Group 4 Securicor - the largest security company in the UK.

Since he was arrested at the weekend Bourannane has officially applied for asylum.

"He has been living a lie for five years," Mr Robinson added.

G4S confirmed that Bourannane worked as a security officer for the company and is currently under investigation 'regarding irregularities with his immigration documentation'.

The firm, which has begun an internal inquiry, said its vetting procedures complied with industry standards.