A man has appeared in court charged with falsely obtaining thousands of pounds from two families searching for their missing children.
Michael Hills, 59, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday to face two charges of obtaining property by deception.
The court heard the first charge related to obtaining £5,000 from Brian Winder on or before July 21, 2000, by falsely representing he could provide information that could trace a missing person, Paul Winder, of Chelmsford, who was kidnapped in Colombia in December, 2000.
He was also charged with obtaining £17,000 from Tim Blackman, by deception, by claiming he could provide information surrounding the disappearance of his daughter, Lucy, in August, 2000, but knowing this was impossible.
Hills, of Lower Marsh, London, spoke only to confirm his name and address. The case was adjourned until Friday, March 21, when it will be committed to Chelmsford Crown Court.
Mr Blackman had travelled to Chelmsford from the Isle of Wight for the hearing.
The dismembered body of his daughter, Lucie, a former air hostess, was found in a seaside cave in Japan, after she went missing in Tokyo.
Published Friday, January 24, 2003
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