A Bradford dentist faces jail after admitting pocketing £85,000 for work he did not do.

Daljit Singh Jabbal, 56, who had a surgery in Killinghall Road, today pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court to a charge of false accounting.

The charge alleged that between April 2006 and October 2008 he dishonestly, and with a view to gain, falsified documents for accounting purposes, a computerised claims form, which contained false particulars referring to dental work that had not been carried out.

Jabbal’s barrister, Abdullah Al-Yunusi, told the court a total loss figure to the Primary Care Trust of £85,000 had been agreed.

Mr Al-Yunusi said an agreement had been reached for that sum to be repaid and his client had put together funds in order to make restoration to the PCT.

He said Jabbal, who is married with children, had now de-registered himself as a dentist as a result of the case.

Stephen Uttley, prosecuting, said there would be a claim for costs, in the region of £10,000, at the next hearing. He said: “Our understanding is he has the wherewithal to pay costs if appropriate.”

The judge, Recorder Dean Kershaw, told Jabbal, of Quaker Lane, Hightown, Liversedge, it had been extremely sensible to plead guilty and may have an impact when he is sentenced.

Adjourning sentencing for probation reports Recorder Kershaw said that repaying the money was likely to have an impact on the sentence he would receive, and similarly with the costs of the case.

Granting him unconditional bail the judge said: “By giving you bail I don’t give you any indication to sentence.

“The likely sentence, for a person in your position at the time, is custody. All options are open.”

Jabbal will be sentenced on March 25.