By Gavin Mackintosh-

The longstanding police officer was respected by his police colleagues as a ”man of authority”  and ” principled”, according to one of his former colleagues. The colleague who did not want to be named  told the eye of media.com ” Keith was considered a principled leader and a man of authority, but at some point, something went wrong. He fell to temptation, and suspicion began to mount

 He was found with enough drugs to keep “a 1970’s rock star, and his band, entertained for weeks”, including a large amount of cocaine in his washing machine. Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said he had never come across a case where the evidence was so overwhelming. Prosecutor, Paul Greaney QC, told the court that what was found was enough drugs to keep a ”1970s rock star and his band entertained for weeks. The former police officer had a a large amount of Cocaine in his washing machine.

The veteran inspector was summed up as dishonest and manipulative by the judge, who  concluded that Keith and Ashley Boots, who were jailed for 24 years, stole the drugs in order to put them back on to the streets of West Yorkshire for their own financial gain.  Judge Marson said: “One of the consequences of a senior police officer turning to crime is it undermines confidence in the police service.” He added: “It’s a betrayal of those decent, honest officers who work diligently in order to detect crime.” The judge told Keith Boots: “Sadly, the only conclusion I can draw is your behavior has been thoroughly dishonest and manipulative. “You are a disgrace to the uniform you once wore.”

Unfortunately, Boots is not the only officer who is a disgrace to the uniform he wears. A number of others were prosecuted and jailed in 2016 for  attempted drug dealing, and in  some cases; domestic violence.  Police officers are expected to maintain the highest level of conduct at all times. Most police officers are law abiding and do conduct themselves professionally, but the minority who don’t go a long way to highlight that there are enough officers who are as bent and shady as the worst of criminals.

Officers  raided Keith Boots’ Bradford home in Norman Lane, Eccleshill, in December 2014,  after one of his colleagues noticed a large quantity of cocaine missing from the station store. They found cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and cannabis worth around £700,000, including 24lb (11kg) of cocaine “jammed” into his washing machine.

. Judge Marson rebuked Keith Boots’, stating that his ”arrogance that no-one would question the actions of a police inspector was his downfall”. Addressing  the defendants, he said:

 “Supplying controlled drugs, particularly of class A, is an evil trade. “It brings misery to those who are addicted and can lead to death. “Every day, this court deals with addicts who steal, rob and burgle in order to fund their habit. “People who supply drugs in this way do it for one purpose only and that’s for financial gain.” The judge added: “Your only motivation was greed at the expense of misery to others. “You, Keith Boots, must have known from your work in the police, the misery which addiction to drugs can bring.”

Keith Boots was found guilty of a range of offences, including conspiracy to steal drugs, conspiracy to supply drugs, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, theft and possessing drugs with intent to supply. He was dismissed from West Yorkshire Police following a hearing in March last year. Ashley Boots, 30, of Weatherhouse Terrace, Halifax, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He admitted six charges of possessing drugs with intent to supply and one count of possessing ammunition.

Ashley Boots also pleaded guilty to two further separate offences of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs before Friday’s sentencing hearing. The court heard he was an “established drug dealer” with a number of cautions for drugs offences. He also received a short prison sentence after being found with a quantity of the drug spice and other controlled drugs following a court hearing for this case. Judge Marson described him as “cunning, manipulative and deceitful”.

 A third man, Ian Mitchell, 28, of no fixed address, was jailed for five years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after he told police the drugs found at the house in Bradford were his and nothing to do with Keith and Ashley Boots. Judge Marson said: “This was an attempt to exculpate Keith and Ashley Boots from very serious criminal charges.” The judge told the men they would serve half of their sentences before being released on licence.

The judge praised the police and the lawyers  involved in the case. He said:

 I have been sitting as a judge for many years and I have never come across a case where the circumstantial evidence was so overwhelming. And it is only so overwhelming because of the dedication of those involved in this investigation.”