A man charged with fraudulently obtaining more than £160,000 from several people by claiming he was a millionaire with a terminal illness has appeared in court.
As reported by The Northern Echo, Jonathan Price, from Killerby, near Darlington, faced six counts of fraud when he appeared via video link at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court in County Durham today (31st October).
The first charge relates to a couple who it is alleged Mr Price fraudulently obtained £24,500 from between 1st January 2010 and 31st May this year in Bournemouth.
The second is dated between 1st December 2010 and 31st May in Darlington, in which Mr Price, 41, of Kealing Grange, is charged with falsely obtaining £115,636.87 from a woman in cash and on credit cards.
A third charge in Harlow in Essex names two women as victims and again Mr Price is alleged to have used fraud to get more than £20,000 between 1st August 2010 and 31st December 2011.
In all three charges it is alleged that Mr Price obtained the money by telling the alleged victims that he was a millionaire with access to funds lodged abroad and that he was terminally ill.
A fourth charge is dated between 1st January and 31st May this year when it is alleged that Mr Price committed fraud at Leeds Business Park by claiming he would employ a business consultant and pay business fees.
The charge said that this was intended to cause loss to a man of a £150,000 salary and £10,000 in fees.
Between 20th and 31st May this year Mr Price is also alleged to have claimed he was a millionaire with funds to buy a new car when he placed an order for an Audi with a dealership also based at the Business Park in Leeds.
In the final charge Mr Price is accused of fraudulently claiming to a removal company that he would make payment for the removal and storage of furniture and goods in Darlington between January 1 and May 31 this year.
No pleas were indicated and magistrates elected to send the case to crown court.
Mr Price was remanded into custody at Holme House Prison in Stockton to appear again at Newton Aycliffe next Wednesday (7th November) for a bail hearing, and for committal on 12th December.