An alleged conman will stand trial next autumn accused of scamming a former Oxford United chairman and six others.

Neil Stafford, 57, faces seven counts of fraud by false representation. Prosecutors say he defrauded more than half a dozen individuals between 2011 and 2014.

Among those named in court documents as Stafford’s alleged victims was Darryl Eales, who stepped down as Oxford United’s chairman in 2018 having led the club to two visits to Wembley.

At a hearing on Wednesday (June 7), Judge Maria Lamb fixed the eight-week trial to begin on September 30 next year.

The case will next be before a judge on December 8 for a pre-trial review.

Stafford, of Sykehouse, near Doncaster, has already pleaded not guilty to the allegations he faced.

James Norman appeared for the Crown Prosecution Service. Bruce Stuart appeared over the video link for the defendant.

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