A Chippenham woman charged with falsifying a PhD certificate in a £107,000 fraud case has appeared in court.

Louise Skeates, of Great Mead, is alleged to have committed fraud by abuse of position while she was employed as the group business operations manager at Purton-based firm SPI Performance Coatings Limited between August 27, 2020 and October 1, 2021.

The 48-year-old stands accused of falsifying PhD, MSc certificate and Site Management Safety Training Scheme certificates between August 1 and 11, 2020.

She faced magistrates in Swindon on July 5 after being charged with fraud by abuse of position and forgery by making a false instrument with intent it be accepted as genuine.

Prosecuting, Asha Seenauth told the court that Skeates had made approximately £107,000 from the two offences.

Skeates is due to appear at Swindon Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on August 4.