A WEYMOUTH man extradited from France has admitted 12 fraud charges totalling over £70,000.

Duncan Lawrie Herd, also known as David Mann, 44, formerly of Faircross Avenue, was arrested in France in May after failing to appear at court in Weymouth last year.

After being remanded in custody, he appeared at Dorchester Crown Court and admitted 12 offences.

Herd, whose last address was given as Chaddiford Lane, Barnstaple, admitted five fraud charges, five charges of obtaining property by deception and two counts of obtaining money transfer by deception.

The first four charges related to offences between October 2004 and June 2007 when he made false representations to Thomas Austin Congdon in Weymouth.

Herd admitted falsely requiring Mr Congdon to pay £4,000 to transport a yacht from Egypt to Gibraltar and a further £1,500 to get a man on board the yacht to leave.

He also dishonestly claimed a further £2,700 to cover repair and mooring costs and a final payment of £3,525.

Herd’s next victim was Gerald Vincent Greenaway.

The defendant admitted making false representations to obtain an underwater video camera housing, filters, a lamp mount and a carrier bag worth £1,344.

Herd also admitted fraudulently claiming £16,775 from Mr Greenaway to bring a yacht to Britain, which he claimed they would then sell and split the profits.

Between January 2006 and July 2006, Herd also admitted dishonestly obtaining £21,600 from Jason Thorley to purchase land in Egypt.

He pleaded guilty to two further fraud charges relating to false representations made to Grant Martin Baker between February and August 2007.

Herd obtained £5,000 from Mr Baker to set up an account in an Isle of Man bank and another £12,000 to purchase, release and transport a yacht.

The final charge Herd admitted was making false representations to Tony Pullen of Dorchester to obtain £4,000 for the cost of collecting a Sunseeker Manhattan motor cruiser.

Michael Butt, prosecuting, said the total amount of money involved was around £71,000.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report and Herd was remanded in custody.

He will return to Dorchester Crown Court for sentencing on September 20.

n harry.hogger@dorsetecho.co.uk