AN aid worker has been asked to produce accounts for the past five years, in an investigation into his charitable activities.

The UK Charity Commission has asked to see a full record of receipts for Convoy Aid, the Teesside-based charity set up by Rod Jones.

Mr Jones, 57, recently resigned as head of the charity, which delivers aid to Romanian orphans, after the commission raised concerns over his past.

The former armed robber, who ran Convoy Aid with his Romanian wife, Gabriella, has never tried to disguise his past, and his last conviction was 30 years ago.

He lists the prisons where he served time on a website in an appeal to former cellmates to help him write a book.

A director from the commission, which is sending officials to look over the books next week, contacted Mr Jones after seeing the website.

Mr Jones said: "I have to say I do feel a bit persecuted. I could understand if they wanted to see accounts for the last few months, but the last five years; it makes you think they are determined to find something wrong."

The Charity Commission said Convoy Aid, which is registered in Romania, not the UK, is not under investigation. Mr Jones set up Convoy Aid in 1990 in memory of his son, Rodney, who died in a car crash.

Since that time, the charity has organised regular lorry trips to Romania delivering clothes and aid to orphans in the country.

Mr Jones said: "They can come and look, but all they will find is that we make nothing out of this, not a cent.

"It is a struggle to keep the thing going and all the money goes on getting the aid over to Romania.