A police inspector in Bradford has denied stealing drugs seized by the West Yorkshire force intending to supply them on and he will face trial next year.

Keith Boots appeared alongside his son Ashley and a third defendant Ian Mitchel, over a video link from Leeds Prison during a 28 minute hearing today at Leeds Crown Court.

The father and son both denied a charge of conspiring to steal drugs belonging to West Yorkshire police between May 27, 2012 and December 5, 2014.

They also pleaded not guilty to three charges of conspiring to supply Class A, Class B and Class C drugs to another between the same dates.

Keith Boots, 54, of Norman Lane, Eccleshill, Bradford, further denied stealing a quantity of cocaine from the police in December, 2014 and he and his son denied possessing cocaine with intent to supply it between December 3-6 that year.

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The police inspector, who has been suspended, also denied stealing trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine between April 8 2013 and December 5, 2014 and he and his son denied possessing the drug with intent to supply it on December 5 2014.

Boots senior denied two charges of stealing cannabis belonging to the force, the first between between November 6 and December 5, 2014 and the second between November 13 and December 5, 2014.

He and his son denied two related charges of possessing cannabis on December 5, 2014 with intent to supply it.

The pair also pleaded not guilty to possessing heroin and ecstasy with intent to supply on the same date December 5, 2014 and to having ammunition, namely 25 7.65millimetre Browning cartridges in their possession on that date without a firearm certificate.

Finally on a 16th charge Keith and Ashley Boots,29, Weatherhouse Terrace, Halifax, and Ian Mitchell, 27, of no fixed address, each pleaded not guilty to conspiring to pervert the course of justice between December 4, 2014 and January 13, 2015.

At a previous hearing Paul Greaney QC prosecuting told the court that it is a complex case involving alleged police corruption.

“Keith Boots is a police inspector and the prosecution case is that he used his position to steal drugs in very large quantities and he and his son conspired to put the drugs back into circulation.

“The Crown’s case is when they were detected they engaged Mitchell as a patsy to explain away their conduct.”

He told the court today that all three defendants have now served defence statements and said counsel in the case believe the trial will last 12 weeks, starting from January 3 next year, the earliest date it can be heard.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC agreed to extend custody time limits until January 6 after being told the defence did not object because they need time to get ready for the trial.

Another hearing was provisionally set for November 4 this year before the trial judge who will by then have been allocated the case for him to discuss some legal issues in the case.

Judge Collier remanded the trio in custody until the trial and told them: “There will be another hearing about November 4 to see if everything is on track for the trial.”