A man was yesterday charged with defrauding several people by posing as a charity worker and collecting money for a fictitious family respite centre in London.

Lawrence Cilia, 61, from Marsa pleaded not guilty to defrauding the donors of over Lm100, misappropriation and relapsing between 16 June and 15 December.

The court, presided over by magistrate Michael Mallia, heard how the accused was facing similar charges in separate proceedings as he was charged in August with posing as a charity worker and collecting over Lm23,000.

Prosecuting officer Police Inspector Angelo Gafà said that given the defendant’s insistence of allegedly repeating the crime he had no choice but to arraign him under arrest.

The man was yesterday charged with posing as a charity worker and collecting money by asking people to place an advert on a magazine, which in reality does not exist.

Inspector Gafà told the court that Mr Cilia assured his alleged victims that the money collected was in aid of Cilia House where relatives of children undertaking care from cancer would stay in London.

Inspector Gafà said that the defendant claimed to be a victim of usury.

Magistrate Mallia granted the defendant bail against a personal guarantee of Lm1,000.

Dr Renzo Porsella Flores was legal aid.