Keighley mayor ‘stole money from Cougars players’

Councillor Michael Westerman, 49, was confronted by police and staff at Keighley Cougars rugby club, who discovered one of the stolen five pound notes from the team coach’s office in his wallet, the court was told.

Staff at the Championship One club set up a hidden camera on police advice after spotting that wages had apparently been going missing in May 2010 and they placed fake wage packets to try and catch the culprit.

After the initial thefts, police told that it would be safer to pay the player’s wages directly into their bank accounts, which they did, but general manager Helen Carter left the fake wage envelopes on three occasions in a bid to catch the thief, the court heard.

The envelope contained a dummy wage slip and £19.70 in cash, when it was taken on August 15 last year.

Miss Carter told Bradford Magistrates Court that she had photocopied the three five pound notes and that when the police searched Westerman’s wallet, one of the notes was in it.

Disguised in a cardboard box, the camera was placed on a bookcase, facing coach Barry Eaton’s desk in his office in the Cougars stadium.

Miss Carter told the court she had even bought a clock especially and placed it in full view of the camera to track the time.

Tariq Bostan, prosecuting, said: “He has a role at the club and it is fair to say he is a fan of the Keighley Cougars and has been for a lengthy amount of time.”

He said there was no reason for Westerman to be in the coach’s office at the time of the alleged offence.

Mr Bostan told the court that when interviewed by police, the defendant said he was the subject of a conspiracy and someone planted the note in his wallet.

Westerman, who had not been working as an announcer on the day of the alleged incident, denies one charge of theft.

Keighley Town Council said Westerman, who is an Independent, took over from Councillor Ian Wilson in May this year to become mayor and is still serving in the role.

The trial continues.