A man accused of claiming hundreds of thousands of pounds in military pension he was not entitled to has been released on bail.

Former Royal Marine Mark Sims, 47, faces four charges relating to allegations of him pocketing the money over a 12 year period.

Sims is said to have received £106,835.76 in War Disablement Pension by fraud between 2007 and 2013.

It is alleged he failed to declare to the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency that he was back in the Marines.

He is also accused of deception by failing to notify a change of condition upon which he obtained £170,933.87p in pension from 2000 to 2007.

The ex-serviceman, who now works in marine security, is further said to have retained a wrongful credit of £27,157 between 2000 and 2012.

The final matter related to him allegedly gaining a pecuniary advantage by deception in October 2000 by saying he did not have a War Disablement Pension.

No charges were formally put to Sims, of Wynsome Street, Southwick, and he did not enter a plea during the brief hearing at Swindon Crown Court.

Judge Douglas Field adjourned the case to Friday, November 14, and released Sims on unconditional bail.