Ian Beesley, 41, from Oxford, is charged with deliberately causing damage to a road surface costing £300, belonging to Oxfordshire County Council.

The case was adjourned by Oxford magistrates until 16 January.

Mr Beesley's solicitor Nicholas Cotter said his client would be contesting the charge.

The defendant appeared in court wearing a T-shirt with a cartoon digger on it.

However, there was no sign of his JCB digger, which he used to travel to police interviews in Oxford on Wednesday when he was formally charged.

Mr Beesley received a parking ticket for the digger after he parked it outside St Aldate's police station on a double yellow line.

Mr Beesley will not be required to attend court on 16 January.