A Birmingham-born former Tory peer accused of making false expenses claims has been described by a friend as "too trusting".

Lord Taylor of Warwick - full name John David Beckett Taylor - is on trial accused of claiming for travel costs between a home in Oxford and the House of Lords, when he actually lived in the capital.  He denies dishonestly claiming £11,277

When Lord Taylor was interviewed under caution at St John's Wood police station, he refused to answer any questions and simply read a prepared statement, the jury at London's Southwark Crown Court heard.

He told the police: "I am aware of the allegations made against me. All of my expenses claims were made in good faith. I refute the allegations."

The first person to give evidence for the defence was Harvey Thomas, who was press and public relations director for Margaret Thatcher during her time as prime minister.

Mr Thomas was introduced to Lord Taylor when he was an unsuccessful Conservative parliamentary candidate for Cheltenham in the 1992 general election. The two men stayed in touch because they were "actively committed Christian people", Mr Thomas said.

When asked by Mohammed Khamisa QC, defending, how he would describe Lord Taylor, he replied: "He was possibly a little too trusting and possibly not pushy enough."

He added: "He was a very trusting individual. If I would call and say something, I wouldn't expect him to question it at all."

The court heard on Wednesday that another peer, Lord Colwyn, advised Lord Taylor to take full advantage of the expenses system. But Lord Colwyn said he did not have a discussion about claiming a main residence outside of London.

Lord Taylor, 58, of Ealing, west London, is on trial facing six allegations of false accounting on various dates between March 2006 and October 2007. The prosecution says he wrongly claimed for travel as well as night subsistence.