AN environmental campaigner, said to be too afraid to leave the house unaccompanied, was spotted jumping on top of a lorry at anti-fracking protests in Lancashire.

Prosecutors told jurors at Preston Crown Court that footage also existed of John Knox, 33, being locked onto machinery at one of the protest sites.

Knox, formerly of Dugdale Place, Blackpool, but now of Maplewood, Liverpool, was receiving personal independent payments (PIP), from the Department of Work and Pensions, on the basis of a range of physical and mental impairments, at the time, the court heard.

He has pleaded not guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances for benefits between dates in September 2016 and May 2018.

Fiona Clancy, prosecuting, alleged that his actions had resulted in a benefits overpayment of nearly £9,000.

She told jurors that Knox had first claimed PIP, formerly known as disability living allowance, in June 2013.

He told an assessor he was suffering from asthma, dyslexia, learning difficulties, back pain, problems with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.

Knox said he "became frightened in crowds" and needed help with bathing, clothing himself and even leaving the house without support, the court heard.

Benefits officials initially awarded him payments based on his physical ailments and later increased this to cover the 'mobility' element of PIP.

Miss Clancy said that making any kind of journey would leave him suffering from "severe psychological distress".

Later assessors ruled he did not qualify for the mobility element and he appealed to an independent tribunal in April 2017, which saw his payments restored.

But Miss told the jury that two months before the appeal took place, Knox was filmed at an anti-fracking protest.

Similar footage also existed of him taking part in demonstrations in May, June, August and October of that year, the court heard.

"Some of the footage shows him being locked into machinery for long periods of time, with other protester, while members of the police have to break in and release them.

UPDATE > Lancs anti-fracking protester 'too afraid to leave home' convicted of benefit fraud

Miss Clancy said: "The Crown says that none of this behaviour is consistent with a person who declares he cannot undertake journeys on his own because he suffers psychological distress."

The court heard Knox had failed to notify the DWP of any change in his circumstances around this time.

The trial continues.