A POLICE inspector in Bradford has appeared in court accused of stealing drugs seized by the West Yorkshire force, including cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and cannabis, with intent to sell them on.

Keith Boots, who turned 54 today, is accused of 12 drugs offences and one count of possession of ammunition and and one court of perverting the course of justice.

He was charged on Wednesday and appeared at Leeds Magistrates' Court yesterday alongside his son, Ashley Boots, 29, and a 27-year-old man.

Boots was suspended from duty after he was arrested at his home in Norman Lane, Eccleshill, which was raided by police in December last year.

The force announced the following day that he had been released on bail and suspended from duties pending the criminal investigation.

Boots appeared in court yesterday to face charges of theft of cocaine from West Yorkshire Police on December 4 last year; theft of trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine belonging to West Yorkshire Police between April 8, 2013 and December 5 last year; theft of cannabis from West Yorkshire Police between November 13 and December 5 last year; theft of cannabis from West Yorkshire Police between November 6 and December 5 last year; possession of cocaine on December 5 last year; possession of diamorphine with intent to supply on December 5 last year; possession of cannabis with intent to supply on December 5 last year; possession of cannabis resin with intent to supply on December 5 last year; possession of methylenedioxymethlamphetamine with intent to supply on December 5 last year; conspiring with other persons to steal controlled drugs belonging to West Yorkshire Police between May 27, 2012 and December 5 last year; conspiring with others to supply a quantity of cocaine between May 27, 2012 and December 5 last year; conspiring with others to supply cannabis between May 27, 2012 and December 5 last year.

In addition he faces charges of conspiring with Ashley Boots between December 4 last year and January 13 this year to do an act so that Ian Mitchell would falsely accept blame for the presence of drugs at a property in Norman Lane; and possession of ammunition, namely 25 Browning cartridges, on December 5 this year.

Ashley Boots, of Weatherhouse Terrace, Halifax, faces eight drugs charges, one count of ammunition possession and one of perverting the course of justice.

The third defendant, Ian Mitchell, of no fixed address, is accused of perverting the course of justice.

Magistrates committed the case to Leeds Crown Court with the next hearing due to take place on January 7.

Neighbours told last December how they were woken by barking police dogs when officers arrived to start the search of the four-storey terraced house in Norman Lane.

Derrick Brain, who lived next door, said police had rammed down the door at about midnight.

He said at the time: "I'd just got in from work and was going to bed when I heard these thudding sounds.

"I looked out and the police were smashing down the door - it's right off its frame. The banging and crashing went on for hours.

"We had to go round and ask them to stop because there were three of us needing to get up and go to work but they said they had to keep going."

A 55-year-old man, who was a West Yorkshire police staff member, was also arrested last December in connection with the inquiry but he was later released without charge.