THE former chairman of Cleveland Police Authority has appeared in court charged with intimidating a witness.

Dave McLuckie is accused of attempting to intimidate Peter Blyth on March 21 this year.

The jury heard how the defendant went to Mr Blyth's home on two occasions to quiz him about statements given to police in relation to investigations into him.

On a second occasion Mr Blyth said the defendant became agitated and annoyed when he learnt he had spoken to officers from Operation Sacristy, a corruption investigation into people with former associations with Cleveland Police.

Mr Blyth said he started waving a statement in his face claiming it could drop the witness 'in the s***'.

He said: "If this gets into the wrong hands, just think what it could do to you - you could lose your house."

He added: "He always had the air of authority about him, he was in charge - you always had the thought that you just do as he asks and then it's over."

He was asked if he felt fear when Mr McLuckie got agitated.

"Not physical fear," he said. " What he said wasn't nice. It did make me apprehensive and you started to think afterwards 'what did he really mean'."

The 52-year-old denies the allegation at Newcastle Crown Court.

The trial continues.