A MAN who was arrested on his driveway on suspicion of drink-driving allegedly doctored CCTV footage to make it look like the incident never happened, a jury has been told.

Preston Crown Court heard how 40-year-old David James Aitken’s alleged deception only came to light when he presented the footage as evidence during his drink-driving trial at Burnley Magistrates Court.

Prosecuting, Hayley Bennett said Aitken claimed the footage was from the time and day he was arrested. But at no point did it show arresting officer PC Hayley Rimmer or anybody inside the defendant’s car.

Ms Bennett said: “It is the prosecution’s case the defendant has produced video footage at a court hearing purportedly taken at the time of his arrest for a matter on November 29, 2015. The Crown say this was false and was produced to deliberately mislead the court.”

Ms Bennett said that on November 29, 2015 PC Rimmer and a second officer attended the Aitken’s property in Jubilee Close, Haslingden, following reports of a disturbance. When they arrived they allegedly saw the defendant in his car on his driveway. The officers allegedly saw the vehicle moving so the defendant was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving over the prescribed limit of alcohol.

The case was sent to Burnley Magistrates Court where the defendant was due to appear on March 14, 2016.

Ms Bennett said Aitken produced footage on an SD card which he said showed his driveway at the time police claimed he committed the drink-driving offence.

But that case was adjourned by prosecutor Dominic Howell for further investigation after PC Rimmer cast doubt over the authenticity of the footage.

Ms Bennett said: “The CCTV footage shows the car stationary. It shows no other people. While there is no date or time stamp on in the footage the creation date is November 9, 2015.

“PC Rimmer took the view that the footage was false. At no point can she see herself approaching the car, being anywhere near the car or searching the car. Nor does she see the defendant on the footage.”

The SD card was seized by the police and they went around to Aitken’s house to conduct further enquiries.

Ms Bennett said during the search officers found a CCTV unit inside the house but a CCTV camera couldn’t be found outside the property.

The CCTV unit was examined by a digital media officer who found the time and date on the system could be set by anyone who use it, the prosecutor said. At that time the date was allegedly set a few months behind its true day.

Ms Bennett said the defendant was arrested but allegedly refused to tell te police where the camera which covered the driveway was.

The prosecution also allege Aitken approached his neighbour’s son asking to view CCTV footage from the night of his arrest. But there was nothing on the system relevant to the night in question.

Ms Bennett said: “The prosecution will rely on evidence from PC Rimmer as to whether the footage is authentic. The lack of CCTV camera outside bthe defendant’s home and the ability to alter the time and date on the CCTV system which was found in the defendant’s home.”

Aitken denies a single count of doing an act tending or intending to pervert the course of public justice.

The trial is expected to last three days.

(PROCEEDING).