THE chairman of a school finance committee is to stand trial over £137,500 fraud allegations.

Andrew Bartlett faces three charges relating to £86,500 belonging to Dyson Perrins CE Sports College in Malvern.

The 48-year-old, who is a financial adviser at Lloyds TSB in Eastgate Street, Gloucester, also allegedly diverted thousands of pounds of customers’ cash to his property development company.

Bartlett, of Northill Gardens, Malvern, entered no plea to five charges, when he appeared before magistrates in Gloucester.

Louise Pinder, prosecuting, said: “These are cases of alleged repeated abuses of trust.

“Between August 6 and September 2, 2009, he allegedly paid £40,000 belonging to a bank customer into the property development company instead of paying the money into an investment account as agreed.

“Another allegation involves £11,000, which a customer wanted to invest for 12 months, but the defendant allegedly also paid it into the account of Bartlett and Styles in April 2009.

“The other three charges – acquiring, using or possessing criminal property – relate to monies belonging to the school, where the defendant was chairman of the finance committee.”

The magistrates declined jurisdiction and adjourned the case until Tuesday, May 24, for trial at Gloucester Crown Court.

Bartlett was granted bail.