A WIRRAL businessman facing a string of fraud allegations involving a child counselling service and magazine ventures has denied the claims.

John Sothern is accused of 16 offences of fraud by false representation between October 16, 2013 and July 2, 2015.

Ten of the charges allege that he dishonestly claimed he had a legitimate business - Options4families - and could offer employment for trainee child counsellors and needed money for background checks, including the Criminal Records Bureau and the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS).

Three similar charges involved dishonestly claiming he worked for Burnley and Pendle Children in Need and wanted to instruct three women to do counselling work and required money for DBS checks.

The other three charges involve false representation that he had legitimate magazines - Life in Magazines, Northwest Tee Time and Parenting Today - and offering advertising space in them.

All 16 charges claim that he committed the offences with intent to gain cash for himself.

Sothern, 47, of Townsend Street, Bidston, was further remanded on bail to await his trial, expected to last two to three weeks, beginning on April 4.

Barbara Webster, defending, said that Sothern denied acting dishonestly and all jobs advertised were available.