THE founder of a campaign group told a court yesterday that he had asked to borrow a digital camera to help with a newsletter.

Richard Elliott said he approached the boss of a photography shop to ask if he could borrow the camera, but made no mention of the Grove Hill 2000 Project.

Mr Elliott is alleged to have claimed the group he had set up was funded by the project when he asked to borrow the camera.

Yesterday Mr Elliott, 45, of Ashleigh Road, Leeds, appeared at Teesside Crown Court, where he denied evasion of liability by deception.

The jury retired to consider its verdict, but is expected to return today to continue its deliberations.

Mr Elliott had claimed he set up The Right To Justice when he moved to Grove Hill, Middlesbrough, last year. It aimed to help victims of miscarriages of justice, but was not a registered charity.

He wanted to borrow the digital camera to produce a newsletter.

The case continues