A man accused of a multi-million pound fraud appeared at Maidstone Crown Court by TV link with Elmley Prison today.

The £4 million corporate fraud case involving Jean Paul Dalton and others dates back to 2003.

The 53-year-old, formerly of Abbots Barton Walk, Canterbury, is accused of conspiracy to be involved in fraudulent evasion of VAT between 2003 and 2008, two charges of conspiracy to defraud by obtaining credit for petrol and goods and one charge of money laundering.

Dalton, who has been living in Spain, was not asked to enter pleas. He is due to do so on April 26. A provisional trial date has been set for July 2.

Judge Philip Statman said: “This is a very substantial matter.”

He added it was a case of complexity.