A 28-YEAR-OLD Pontypool man has appeared in court charged with fraud and perverting the course of justice.

Phillip Shortman, aged 28, appeared via video link at Newport Magistrates Court today from Cardiff prison where he is currently serving.

He is charged with committing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice on April 8, 2015, when he is alleged to have produced documents to Newport Crown Court to confirm that he was employed by CASS Fibre Telecom Electrical when he was not employed by the company.

He is also charged with fraud by false representation between August 25 and September 1, 2014, when he is alleged to have asserted in an application for employment with NGIS LTD that he had no previous convictions recorded against him and that he had previously been in the British Army, intending to gain employment.

The case was sent to Newport Crown Court and Shortman will next for a plea hearing on November 13.