AN OFFICER in charge of Ministry of Defence police at a North Yorkshire spy base fraudulently claimed almost £13,000 in housing benefits, York Crown Court heard.

Chief Inspector Graeme Drummond, who headed MoD police at Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, denies that he falsely claimed £12,825 in housing allowance while living at a Ministry of Defence home in Oak Avenue, Harrogate.

The court heard that Drummond, who has lived at the former Army Apprentices' College building with his wife, son and daughter since May 1997, was mistakenly allowed to stay rent-free.

Michael O'Neill, prosecuting, said the MoD police officer claimed thousands of pounds in housing allowance benefit to which he knew he was not entitled.

The Defence Housing Executive benefit financially supports service personnel and MoD police officers who live in private rented accommodation.

Mr O'Neill told the jury that the senior police officer was an "intelligent" man who held a responsible and respected job.

He said: "Whatever the system was on that given day and whoever was operating it, one thing must have been abundantly clear to Graeme Drummond.

"That is what you cannot get out of the system is a rent-free house and then claim an allowance against rent on top, added on to your monthly salary.

"He knew full well that he should not have been receiving the allowance, but he went on doing so."

Prosecution witness Jeffrey Worrall, who works at Imphal Barracks in York as an allocations and tenancy manager, said an "administrative error" had lead to Drummond's rent-free status.

He said the unexplained error was spotted in 2000, but staff chose not to pursue the defendant for the lost cash.

Drummond was arrested and suspended from duty in March 2002 as part of an investigation into his housing allowance claim.

The police officer is charged with obtaining money transfers of £1,243, £2,512, and £9,060 by deception between May 1997 and December 2001.

He is also charged with two counts of false accounting, in that he made false representations on housing allowance forms in December 1997 and May 1998.

He denies all the allegations.

The court heard today that Chief Insp Drummond was brought into RAF Menwith Hill to resolve security problems at the base following a serious breach of security during 1997.

Squadron Leader Edward Sumner, who was RAF Commander at Menwith Hill between 1996 and 1999, told the court that Drummond was in charge of MOD Police at the base and was "totally" committed to his work.

The trial continues.

Updated: 14:52 Tuesday, March 04, 2003