A FORMER headteacher will appear before a crown court judge after being accused of fraud by false representation.

David Jerome De Silva, 38, is due to appear before Bournemouth Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, February 16.

The offences are alleged to have occurred between April 1, 2016 and April 30, 2016 when De Silva was working as the headteacher of Pimperne Primary School near Blandford.

De Silva, of Organford Road, Poole, appeared before Weymouth Magistrates Court this morning to deny the charges against him.

It is alleged that De Silva dishonestly made a false representation by submitting two false invoices to the Education Finance Officer of Pimperne Primary School, intending to make a gain, namely of £3,300 for himself.

De Silva left his position at the school last year.