A CLOTHES shop owner appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday charged with alleged credit card fraud.

Colin Donaldson, of Triads in Albert Road, Middlesbrough, was arrested following an investigation by Cleveland Police.

Mr Donaldson, 38, of Newstead Road, Middlesbrough, appeared alongside Haci Ozdemir, 33, manager of the Renaissance leatherwear shop in Linthorpe Road, also Middlesbrough.

Mr Donaldson, Mr Ozdemir of Linthorpe Road, and Ian Lamming, 30, of Monklands Close, Middlesbrough, are jointly charged with conspiracy to defraud a financial institution. The alleged offences took place between April 1 and July 9 last year.

The court was told that credit card company Barclays was allegedly defrauded of funding amounting to "several thousand pounds". The case was adjourned for a plea and direction hearing on April 18