THE son of a Lottery millionaire called police after he claimed a man he lent expensive musical equipment to refused to give the items back.

David White set up a management company to promote and manage pop groups with money given to him by his father, who won more than £6 million on the National Lottery.

One of the groups White was associated with was Sweet Female Attitude, who had a Number 2 hit with the song Flowers.

He runs The Stables studios in Slag Lane, Atherton, where songwriter Michael Powell used to use the equipment free of charge because White hoped he would write a song for one of his groups.

But Powell complained about the noise at the studio and allegedly asked if he could borrow an expensive microphone and voice synthesizer module to use at home.

But when White asked for the equipment to be returned, Powell refused and eventually White called in the police. Powell, aged 43, of Cross Street, Worsley, appeared at Bolton Crown Court to stand trial accused of theft.

The court heard that White had set up November Management Services Ltd to manage and promote pop groups.

In June 2000, Powell asked White if he could borrow a Neumann elastic suspension microphone stand worth £650, a voice synthesizer module valued at £850 and two microphone stands at £45 each. White agreed, but in November 2000 White told Powell he needed the equipment returned.

Eventually a solicitor's letter was sent because the equipment had not been returned.

Finally, White called the police and Powell was arrested.

When he was interviewed by police, Powell admitted he knew White and had visited the Stables studio but was adamant he had not borrowed the equipment and that some of the items in the studio were his.

In court, White denied he had accused Powell of theft because he was annoyed that his relationship with Sweet Female Attitude had ended.

(Proceeding)