Former tax chief denies corruption

David Shamoon was cleared of the sole charge against him, that of bribing a public official, in December 1996 when the trial judge ordered his aquittal.

A former senior tax inspector denied corruption charges alleging that he accepted the services of a prostitute, free Concorde tickets, holidays and cash payments as bribes, when he appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday.

Michael Allcock, 47, was allegedly given air tickets to the South of France, where his hotel bill was paid, as well as a holiday in Majorca, an American cruise and other gifts, as an "inducement or reward for showing favour" to businessmen.

The 13 charges against the former head of the Inland Revenue's investigation unit Special Office 2 cover June 1987 to October 1992. Mr Allcock, of Colchester, Essex, appeared in the dock with Hisham Alwan and David Shamoon, who deny giving him bribes.