THE son of a police inspector accused of plotting with him to steal drugs seized by West Yorkshire Police had contacts with convicted criminals in the drugs world, a jury heard.

The prosecution claims that Keith Boots abused his position as an inspector at Trafalgar House in Bradford to steal hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs which had been seized. They should have been destroyed, but instead were offloaded by his son, Ashley, using his network of connections.

Paul Greaney QC, prosecuting, told the jury at Leeds Crown Court that analysis of three phones used by Ashley Boots showed between March 2014 and April 2015 he made calls or texts to four men with drug offences on their records and a fifth who was cautioned.

Teresa Graham, intelligence analyst, produced schedules which included 471 contacts to Christopher Wakefield, who in June 2012 was convicted for possessing cannabis and amphetamine with intent to supply and supplying cannabis and amphetamine.

Mr Greaney said over the same time, Ashley Boots' telephones were in contact with a phone used by Steven Bell on 355 occasions. He had convictions for possessing cocaine with intent to supply and supplying cocaine.

He also contacted Dean Whitlock on 346 occasions. He had a conviction for possessing cannabis.

The jury has heard when police were searching for Ashley Boots in December 2014 following the arrest of his father, they went to Whitlock’s home in Leeds and recovered drugs from under Whitlock’s bed including some blue pills.

The prosecution claim those tablets were similar to others recovered at the home of Keith Boots after his arrest.

Ashley Boots, 30 of Heatherhouse Terrace, Pellon, Halifax, denies conspiracy to steal drugs, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, Class B Drugs and Class C drugs, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and one charge of possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

He has now admitted six charges of possessing drugs with intent to supply involving TFMPP, cannabis, heroin, cocaine and ecstasy. He also admits possession of 25 cartridges without a firearms certificate.

His father Keith Boots, 55 of Norman Lane, Bradford, denies all those charges in addition to charges of stealing drugs from West Yorkshire Police.

A third man, Ian Mitchell, 28, denies conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Christopher Tehrani QC, defending Ashley Boots, put it to the analyst that some of the contacts from his phone lasted only a second indicating some were attempts and not successful calls.

The jury heard prior to the arrest of his father in August 2014, Ashley Boots had been arrested on suspicion of possessing heroin and cannabis with intent to supply them and was bailed by police.

Mr Greaney said on September 30 Keith Boots sent a text message to his son saying: “You’re f***ed mate and you were taking me down with you, you used me, that’s not love.”

On November 16 Keith Boots sent another message: “You get charged and I am f****d also.”

The trial continues.

MORE TOP STORIES