A Inland Revenue manager who pocketed cash he made from selling off surplus office furniture has been jailed for nine months.

Geoffrey Booth, 48, who had an exemplary 20-year career with the Inland Revenue, was given the job of disposing of unwanted furniture after it was decided to close the Bradford Valuation Office premises in Forster Square last year.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Booth, who was the office manager, sold items to members of staff and furniture firms without telling the Inland Revenue about the money he raised.

Prosecutor Thomas Bayliss revealed that Booth put some of the money towards the cost of an office party.

But Mr Bayliss told the court that the party was a "smokescreen'' so he could keep most of the money for himself.

Suspicions were aroused when the managing director of a transport firm, who had won the contract to remove the furniture, became concerned about missing items.

He also saw an employee from a rival firm at the Bradford office.

Inland Revenue investigators started an inquiry and Booth, who initially maintained that any money raised was "negligible'', was suspended in June last year.

Mr Bayliss said Booth continued to dispute the amounts of money involved but he eventually handed over £1,045 to the investigators.

Booth, of Harrogate Road, Leeds, pleaded guilty to nine charges of theft.

In January this year he was dismissed from his job.

His barrister Paul Greaney said his client was now a broken man, who had thrown away his career and his good character for a paltry sum.

Mr Greaney said the closure of the Bradford office was a major exercise and it was an extremely stressful time.

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