THE sentencing of a power station worker who admitting defrauding his employers out of more than £100,000 has been adjourned due to disagreements on the scale of the theft.

Brian Paul Smith, 53, was facilities support manager at Drax Power Station, and was responsible for selling scrap metal from the station to European Metal Recycling.

At Selby Magistrates’ Court, Smith admitted he had approached the firm to seek cash-in-hand payments over a 14-month period between June 2010 and August 2011, and the date for his sentencing was set for Tuesday.

Selby magistrates heard in October last year Smith went directly to European Metal Recycling and asked for cash-in-hand payments which totalled £116,928.

However, Taryn Turner, for Smith, told York Crown Court yesterday her client disputed that amount, and the figure of £117,775.89, which had been calculated by proceeds of crime officers.

Mrs Turner also told the court her client had recently seen a specialist, who suspected he may be suffering from a brain tumour.

Judge Stephen Ashurst that either of the amounts constituted “a very significant loss” to his employers, agreed to adjourn the case to another date, to give both sides time to discuss the matter and reach a satisfactory conclusion.