Four men have appeared in court to face charges connected with the large scale theft of scrap metal from a former psychiatric hospital.

Christopher Gwilliams, 39, of Parkwood Rise, Keighley, and Craig Widdowson, 32, of Aireville Terrace, Burley-in-Wharfedale, are both charged with stealing scrap metal to the value of £12,000 from the former High Royds Hospital site. The thefts are alleged to have taken place between July 1 and November 30, 2008.

Also due to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court at 10am last Friday were 28-year-old David Nicholson, of Weston Lane, Otley, 34-year-old Philip Quigley, of Silk Mill Drive, Tinshill, and 34-year-old John Moat, of Tinshill Mount, Tinshill.

But the court was told Moat was unable to attend as he was being treated in the intensive care unit of Leeds General Infirmary, after being admitted on Christmas Day with “a drug-related problem”.

Mark Pritchard, defending Quigley and Moat, said: “It may assist in his (Mr Moat’s) case if there was some medical report for the court and Crown to consider.”

Widdowson arrived near the end of the hearing, after a warrant for his arrest for non-appearance had been issued, but that was withdrawn when he explained that a problem with his train from Burley had delayed him.

The court heard that Nicholson was facing a number of separate allegations of handling stolen goods. Those included handling scrap metal to the value of £500 on September 14, 2008, to the value of £178.50 on September 27 and, again on September 27, handling an unspecified amount of scrap metal.

Quigley is charged with handling scrap metal valued at £504.53 between September 1 and November 30 and of using a vehicle without insurance, while Moat is charged with handling scrap metal valued at £3,588 between the same dates.

Pritchard asked for an adjournment because of Moat’s medical condition and so he could arrange legal aid for Quigley, while Erica Topham, representing Widdowson and Gwilliams, suggested all the defendants should be tried together.

She said: “I would suggest that they go up to Crown Court together.”

The case was adjourned until 10am on Monday, January 19, with all five defendants granted police bail. Moat’s bail was unconditional.

Nicholson was granted bail on condition he continued to live at the address given to the court and complied with the Drugs Intervention Programme.

Gwilliams, Quigley, and Widdowson were all granted bail on condition they did not enter any scrap yards or benefit from the sale of any scrap metal.

All were warned that if they broke any of the bail conditions they would be arrested and put into custody.

A Grade II listed building, the former High Royds hospital is now owned by housing developers Gladedale, who have built hundreds of new homes on the site and converted parts of the older properties.