A BOURNEMOUTH GP is due to appear before a court this month charged with soliciting a murder.

Dr David Crichton is alleged to have plotted a killing at his home in Cawdor Road, Winton on February 26 this year.

The 63-year-old is one of the directors of the Muscliff Care Home in Tolpuddle Gardens and is still listed as one of the practising doctors at the Tolpuddle Gardens GP surgery.

He appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, September 21. Prosecutors claim he solicited, encouraged, persuaded, endeavoured to persuade or proposed to a person unknown to murder Andrew Bolden.

Crichton is also charged with sending Mr Bolden electronic communications, namely emails and text messages, which conveyed a threat for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety to the recipient, on dates between July 26 2016 and March 4 2017.

The alleged offence took place at Crichton's home.

The defendant has not yet entered a plea to either of the charges against him and is next due to appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on October 19.

He has been released on bail on the condition that he doesn't contact Mr Bolden or the employees of Brown Shipley Financial Advisers directly or indirectly.

A spokesperson for the Muscliff Care Home confirmed to the Daily Echo that Crichton continues to hold his directorship.

However, he said he was unable to comment further.

Crichton has relinquished his registration to the General Medical Council, although was fully registered with the organisation in August 1978.

He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1977.