An alleged romance fraudster has appeared in court.

Marc Cole-Jones appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court on Monday, August 18, charged with 22 counts of fraud by false representation.

The charges follow a detailed investigation by detectives from the Economic Crime Unit at Cheshire Police.

They relate to romance fraud allegations involving six women from Cheshire, Lancashire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Manchester and the West Midlands, which are reported to have occurred between 2009 and 2024.

It is alleged that Cole-Jones got his victims to send him money for things such as a campervan, an aesthetic clinic, a Land Rover Defender.

The 52-year-old is also accused of convincing a woman to invest £75,000 in a canal boat and £100,000 into a HyperFund.

Court records state that Cole-Jones repeatedly claimed to be in financial crisis, requiring money transfers to cover things such as veneer repairs, unpaid council tax bills and private heart surgery.

The total value of the alleged offences is £595,791.41.

At court on Monday, Cole-Jones, of Church Grove, Donnington, Telford, did not enter a plea and has been bailed to appear at Chester Crown Court on Monday, September 15.