A former partner in Grant Thornton's New York office has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $4m (£2.6m) in client payments to the US accounting firm.

Craig Haber, who was a GT partner between 2004 and 2012, admitted telling clients to post cheques directly to his office instead of through the normal processing channel. He then deposited the cheques into a bank account he controlled and used the money for personal expenses, including repayments on the mortgage for his New York apartment.

Haber faced a charge of mail fraud in a federal court in New York, and as part of his plea has agreed to not appeal any order requiring up to $4.34m (£2.78) in restitution. He also agreed to forfeit $3.97m (£2.55m), as well as all rights to his downtown Manhattan apartment and $1.8m (£1.15) in a brokerage account.

Haber will be sentenced on 13 December 2013 and is likely to face up to 61 months in jail and a fine of between $10,000 (£6411) and $100,000 (£64,110).

A US spokesman for GT said the firm was 'pleased that the authorities have resolved this matter swiftly.'