The event sparked huge media interest

He was charged with trespassing in the cathedral, breaching the peace by videoing the service, and attempting to defeat the end of justice by giving a false name to police.

His pleas of not guilty were accepted when he appeared at Dornosch Sheriff Court in Sutherland on Monday.

Robert Podesta, 51, from Garway, Herefordshire, admitted secretly filming the christening of Rocco - the son of Madonna and film director Guy Richie.

The court heard that he hid among the organ pipes amid tight security in Dornoch Cathedral in order to video the ceremony.

The court heard how Mr Podesta, a part-time security man, almost carried off a feat which the world's media had been unable to achieve.

Obviously his intention was to sell this video recording which it is believed would have some relatively considerable commercial value

Prosecutor Alasdair MacDonald

Cameras and reporters were kept out of the star-studded event, which happened the day before Madonna and Mr Ritchie were married at Skibo Castle.

Mr Podesta hid in the organ pipes the day before the event with a supply of food and drinks, in the hope of making a fortune from video sales.

But the court heard that he did manage to "furtively video" the proceedings, but the alarm was raised when he made a noise as he tried to leave an hour after the guests had gone.

Mr Podesta - who was not in court for the proceedings - admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner likely to cause "concern" by filming the private ceremony on 21 December.

Sheriff Ian Cameron ordered the destruction of the video and called for Mr Podesta to appear in person on 29 March to give details of his financial circumstances before sentencing.

Security personnel

Prosecutor Alasdair MacDonald told the court that Madonna and Mr Ritchie obtained special permission from the Church of Scotland for the christening to be held in private because they were concerned about the level of media interest and worried about security.

He said the ceremony had taken place between 1830 and 1900GMT and about half an hour later security personnel came across Mr Podesta carrying a rucksack.

The rucksack was found to contain a camcorder and when approached, he confessed to having filmed the baptism from behind the cathedral's organ.

Mr MacDonald told the court there was no film in the camcorder and that Mr Podesta said he had dropped it down an organ pipe.

Security at the cathedral was extremely tight

The organ was searched and a film retrieved, which proved to be blank, but Mr Podesta was spotted trying to conceal a video cassette under a pew cushion.

Mr MacDonald said this proved to be a 24-minute long recording of the baptism ceremony.

"Obviously his intention was to sell this video recording which it is believed would have some relatively considerable commercial value," he added.

The court was told that Mr Podesta had joined Mr Bufton - a reporter - about a week before the christening when the details of the plan had been devised.

He said: "He has explained to me that he allowed himself to get involved in this venture for a bit of fun, a bit of excitement, but he now realises that he has been a fool and he regrets it."