AN ACCOUNTANT has appeared in court charged with stealing £450,000 from defunct Bradford-based conveyancing firm Hammonds Direct.

Anthony Simpson, 52, is accused of siphoning off the money over a two year period while working for the company, which went bust in 2009 with the loss of 200 jobs.

Simpson, of Wood Avenue, Dale Lane Estate, Heckmondwike, was not legally represented for his first court appearance, in front of District Judge Susan Bouch, at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He wore a grey hooded top over a checked shirt when he appeared on bail for the short hearing.

Simpson denied a charge of theft by employee, between September 1, 2008, and July 8, 2010.

The accusation is that he "stole monies to the value of approximately £450,000 belonging to the partners of Hammonds Direct."

Simpson, who wore spectacles and has a grey beard, was asked by the court clerk if he was legally represented.

He replied: "No. I do not wish to see a solicitor."

Prosecutor Mark Haigh said the case would have to be sent to Bradford Crown Court.

"He was an accountant at a large national company called Hammonds and he is said to have siphoned off £450,000 over almost two years.

"It is a long course of conduct involving a huge amount of money and not suitable to be tried here," Mr Haigh said.

Simpson told the district judge he was happy for his case to be dealt with at the Crown Court.

A date was fixed for October 16 and he was remanded on unconditional bail.

Asked by District Judge Bouch: "Do you intend to get a solicitor for the Crown Court hearing?"

Simpson replied: "I don't".

Hammonds Direct, based at Pennine House in Well Street, Little Germany, Bradford, went under after losing 80 per cent of its business to a collapse in mortgage lending.

It was established in 1995 and grew to be the UK’s leading bulk conveyancing business, with a turnover of more than £14 million.

It had offices in Manchester and Mumbai in India and focused mainly on re-mortgage business, helping people switch their loans between lenders.

The slump in the housing market and the dearth of mortgage funds wiped out most of the firm’s business.