A MAN has appeared in court accused of defrauding six people out of over £800,000 as part of a series of alleged investment frauds.

Matthew James Burgess, whose address was given as White Hill, Puddletown, appeared before Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 4 charged with seven offences.

He entered no pleas to six counts of fraud by false representation and one count of performing a regulated activity when not authorised. 

Burgess, 31, is accused of dishonestly claiming he would invest money in stocks -  namely FX, indices and commodities markets - to the value of £801,249 between March 1, 2016 and April 30, 2021.

It is alleged his victims lost £226,249, £65,000, £160,000, £100,000, £50,000 and £200,000, respectively.

The case was adjourned to be heard before Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, February 2.