A 73-year-old man has been accused of obtaining thousands of pounds by deception.

Harvey Bush, 73, of The Turnpike, Carleton Rode, faces three charges – two of obtaining a money transfer by deception and one of making a false statement or representation to obtain benefit.

The total amount of money involved is more than �80,000.

Bush was not at Norwich Magistrates' Court yesterday but during a hearing which went ahead in his absence District Judge Peter Veits committed the case to Norwich Crown Court.

A plea and case management hearing is due to take place on April 2 at Norwich Crown Court.