A police inspector accused of stealing drugs seized by the West Yorkshire force to sell on, has made his first appearance at crown court.

Keith Boots, 54, and his son, Ashley Boots, 29, both appeared over a video link from Leeds Prison to a hearing at Leeds Crown Court this morning .

A third defendant, Ian Mitchell, 27, also appeared via a video link from Doncaster Prison.

Paul Greaney QC prosecuting told the court that it was 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.”

Before magistrates Keith Boots, of Norman Lane, Eccleshill, faced 12 drug offences including the theft of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and ecstasy and conspiring to steal from West Yorkshire police. He also faces a charge of possessing 25 Browning cartridges.

In addition he is accused of conspiring between December 4, 2014 and January 13 last year to pervert the course of justice by doing acts so that Mitchell would falsely accept blame for the presence of the drugs at a property in Norman Lane.

He was suspended from duty after his arrest.

Ashley Boots, of Weatherhouse Terrace, Halifax, faced eight drugs charges before magistrates as well as the ammunition possession and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Mitchell, of no fixed address, was at magistrates court only accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

No charges were put to any of the defendants after counsel separately representing the father and son asked for them not to be arraigned before further prosecution papers are served.

All three were remanded in custody provisionally to a plea and case management hearing in May after the judge said he was prepared not to put the charges and “all indicate at the minute firm not guilty pleas”.

No trial date was fixed but Mr Greaney told the court it was currently estimated to last between eight to 12 weeks.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC, indicated the trial was not likely to get on at Leeds before the custody time limit expires in June and inquiries will be made with other court centres to see if they could hear the case earlier.

He told the three accused they must prepare statements indicating what their defence is “and what you say about the prosecution case.”

Those are to be served by March 17 unless an extension is granted.

Neighbours told in December 2014 how they were woken by barking police dogs when officers arrived to start the search of the four-storey terraced house in Norman Lane.