A man has appeared in court charged with fraud in connection with the purchase of race horses involving a sum of money of around £5 million.

Michael Baker, 28, of Allington Cottages, Pilgrims Way, Hollingbourne, is charged with four offences of dishonestly making a false representation contrary to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.

He did not enter a plea at the hearing this morning and was released on bail to return to Crown Court tomorrow, when he is due to answer charges from May 2007 of dishonestly obtaining property, which also relates to the purchase of race horses, and fraudulent trading, which does not relate to race horses.