A SCRAP dealer is accused of stealing nearly £11,000 worth of electrical music equipment from a pavement in Burnham.

David Haines, 26, of Spindles,Tilbury, has denied one count of theft from outside the home in Park Road, Burnham, on June 18 last year.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard that the scrap dealer had been driving around the town when he spotted a pile of music equipment including two guitar amps and fenders, belong- ing to Timothy Aves.

Haines admits taking the equipment but claimed he was given per - mission by a neighbour.

Joseph Bird, prosecuting, told the jury on Tuesday: “Timothy Aves was preparing to travel to Plymouth for a gig, as he is a member of a blues band.

"He put out all of his musical equipment on to his drive and partially on the pavement, he then went back inside to wait for fellow band member Robert Barry.

"At around 9.05am, David Haines was driving around in a white pick-up style van when he noticed the equipment on the pavement, and he said that after knocking on some doors he entered a conversation with Mr Aves’ neighbour Carol Noble.

"During the conversation about the equipment, the defendant claims that Ms Noble said ‘It’s in the way now, take it’ whereby he loaded up the equipment, estimated to be worth nearly £11,000, and drove away and sold it on.”

In a prepared statement read out by Mr Bird, Carol Noble said: “When I had a conversation outside with the man asking if he could take the equipment away, I repeatedly said ‘No you can’t take it, it doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to my neighbour’.”

Giving evidence, Mr Aves said: “This equipment and music is my passion, and I’ve spent nearly £4,000 trying to replace what was taken.”

The trial continues.