TWO men have been jailed for defrauding the Grand Theatre in Leeds of over £178,000.

Peter Alp, an accountant, was the head of finance at the historic theatre when he plotted with Dean Oates to fleece taxpayers using false invoices.

Alp, 52, previously from Harrogate was found guilty on Thursday by a jury at Leeds Crown Court of conspiracy to defraud and was jailed for five years.

Oates, 47 of The Paddock, Lime Bar Lane, Marton cum Grafton north of York, who admitted the conspiracy and gave evidence against Alp, was jailed for 16 months.

Sentencing them, Recorder Nigel Sangster QC said they had taken the money at a time when ratepayers were subsidising the arts in the city where the Grand theatre group, which also included the City Varieties and Hyde Park Picture house, had been given charity status and was running at a £500,000 a year financial deficit.

He said Alp had abused his position out of “sheer greed” and his plan to allow suspicion to fall on innocent colleagues if it came to light was “shameful and despicable.”

The jury heard after Alp recruited Oates he entered fake invoices arranging for money to be paid through Oates bank account or to another account in the name of Bittern Entertainment, entering them as creditors.

He faked signatures of colleagues and used their passwords to access documents. Some of the invoices purported to be for shows put on at the theatre, such as Top Hat of We will Rock You but when inquiries were made no evidence that Bittern had provided services was found.

York Press:

Oates would then withdraw the cash and share it with his accomplice handing payment over in pubs in Harrogate where they would meet.

The jury heard 54 invoices relating to Oates and Bittern were entered costing £178,340.

Oates told the jury in evidence he had done some singing and was known to Alp because his then partner was a child minder who looked after the accountant’s children.

After a road accident Oates said he was using medication for pain and could not work. He began taking illicit drugs as well and “when you hit rock bottom your up for anything in life to just get by.”

Marlon Grossman representing him said he had been recruited at a time when his life had spiralled downhill. “This is a man who feels an immense shame and regret and apologises particularly because this was a charity.”

Recorder Sangster said he accepted he had played a lesser but important role.