A NORTH-EAST millionaire has appeared before magistrates charged with kerb crawling.

Keith Schellenberg, 73, was not at his pre-trial review hearing yesterday, but is expected to appear for his trial next month.

He was arrested by police in a red light district of Middlesbrough on November 10 but denies soliciting.

Mr Schellenberg, who lives at St Nicholas, Richmond, in North Yorkshire, was a member of the 1956 British Olympic bobsleigh team, a powerboat and car racer, one-time Yorkshire county rugby captain, waterskier and laird of a Scottish island.

He will appear before Teesside Magistrates' Court on Thursday, April 3.