Man in court accused of £595k romance fraud

A person hold a phone in their hands with a message on screen that says 'I love you'. The image is close up.Image source, Getty Images
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The allegations involve six women over a 15-year-peroid investigators said (generic image)

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A man has appeared in court accused of defrauding six women out of almost £600,000 through romance fraud scams.

Marc Cole-Jones, of Donnington, Telford, Shropshire, is accused of 22 counts of fraud by false representation over a 15-year period.

The 52-year-old also known as Marc Cole, Marcus Cole-Jones and Marc Sands, was released on conditional bail at Warrington Magistrates' Court, to appear at Chester Crown Court on 15 September.

The allegations, reported to have occurred between 2009 and 2024, involve women from Cheshire, Lancashire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Manchester and the West Midlands, with the total value of the offences coming to £595,791, Cheshire Police said.

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