A man has appeared in court after an online dating fraud probe by police - and one of the alleged victims is from Kidderminster.

Matthew Bart Samuels, 49, of Loxley Green, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, faces a total of nine charges, five of which are of fraud by false representation.

Another count accuses him of pretending to be a barrister.

There is also an allegation that he impersonated a police constable and he faces two theft charges.

The allegations follow an investigation led by West Mercia Police into online dating fraud.

He appeared before Worcester magistrates on Saturday, when he was remanded in custody while a date is arranged for his case to go to crown court.