A psychic has appeared in court accused of a million-dollar fraud involving racehorses and a doctor.
Christopher Heath, of Coegnant Road, Maesteg, is charged with nine counts of fraud and one of intending to pervert the course of justice.
The 30-year-old, who works as a spiritual medium and clairvoyant, appeared before Bridgend magistrates yesterday. He made no plea as the latter charge can only be dealt with in crown court.
All of the fraud charges are said to have happened between April and October 2008 in Maesteg.
Heath, who told the court he was a television presenter, is well known for his psychic work and holds clairvoyance evenings in Maesteg.
Magistrates bailed him on the condition that he does not contact prosecution witnesses Stephanie Thomas, Cheryl Rewbridge, Paul Stead, Kath Stanton and Dr Karen Sanderson. vThe prosecution alleges he committed fraud by dishonestly making a false representation claiming that Dr Sanderson had £4m in Coutts Bank, the UK private banking arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The charge states that Heath intended Dr Sanderson to believe the funds were there so she could bid for racehorses totalling $1,295,000 (about £800,000).
Five of the charges allege that on five separate occasions he dishonestly claimed Kath Stanton and Cheryl Rewbridge were qualified to care for racehorses, with the intention of making a gain by obtaining cheques from Dr Sanderson for their upkeep.
The prosecution also claims that on April 18, August 1 and August 2, 2008, Heath made false representations to obtain blank cheques from Dr Sanderson.
The final charge alleges that on January 27 this year at Wildmill, Bridgend, with the intent to pervert the course of justice, he told Stephanie Thomas to fabricate a witness statement to South Wales Police.
Heath will appear at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday.
