A MAN involved with a campaign organisation went on trial yesterday accused of getting the free loan of a digital camera on false pretences.

Richard Elliott, who was involved with the Right to Justice organisation, is alleged to have told the managing director of a Middlesbrough camera shop that the campaign group was associated with or funded by the town's Grove Hill 2000 regeneration project.

Yesterday, Mr Elliott, 45, of Ashleigh Road, Leeds, appeared before Teesside Crown Court charged with evasion of liability by deception. He has denied the charge.

Ian Skelt, prosecuting, said Mr Elliott approached the Middlesbrough camera shop, in September last year, and said his organisation was funded by the Grove Hill 2000 project.

He asked to borrow a digital camera and was granted a free loan over the weekend.

Mr Elliott returned on the Monday and said he had had trouble downloading the photographs on to his computer, and was allowed to keep it for another 24 hours, said Mr Skelt.

Esmund Watson, managing director of the shop, said the camera was not returned the next day, and, after a few days, he asked someone involved with neighbourhood security in Grove Hill, Middlesbrough, to see if he could get it back. The camera was returned days later.

The case continues.