THE former chief executive of Cotswold Water Park has appeared in court on fraud charges totalling £707,000.

Dennis Grant, 63, of Upper Tadmarton, near Banbury, had the seven charges, each alleging he made false representations to gain advantage for himself, read out at Stroud Magistrates’ Court in Gloucestershire.

The charges, which date between November 2006 and January 2009, allege he made false representations to companies or their representatives that he knew were untrue and had money which should have been paid to the Cotswold Water Park paid into his own accounts.

The case was committed to crown court for trial with Grant given conditional bail.