A MAN facing bogus mortgage application charges will stand trial later this year after denying nine counts of forgery and fraud.

William Davenport - who is also known as Carrington - will next be at Teesside Crown Court for a case management hearing on May 11.

The married 59-year-old, of Windlestone Hall, Windlestone, at Rushyford, County Durham, was given bail until appearing again.

He was ordered to report twice a week at nearby Bishop Auckland police station, and not to apply for travel documents without permission.

The court heard that he has surrendered his passport, and his wife and family have been in the United States since his arrest a year ago.

Mr Davenport is alleged to have made false representations that he was employed by an American-based company called Veneretech as head of European operations, that he was on an annual salary of £430,000 and that he had worked for the company for 16 years and had paid UK tax.

The charges allege that he forged payslips, a reference, a contract of employment and a P60 to get mortgages from Barclays Bank.

His barrister, Yvonne Taylor, told the court: "I am instructed so far that there is absolutely no dishonesty."

Miss Taylor said: "It is going to be a factual dispute, and it is a strict denial of making false instruments with intent . . . he does not accept the instruments (the documents) were false."

The nine charges are said to involve complex fraud and forgery offences relating to four mortgage applications - one for £200,000, one for £500,000, one for more than £700,000 and one for £1.5 million.

The dates covered on the indictment which was put to him today are from April 2012 to April 2013.

Mr Davenport bought the Grade II* listed hall and grounds - once the family home of Prime Minister Sir Anthony - from Durham County Council for £241,000.

He was arrested in November 2014 and charged more than a year later after being re-bailed a number of times, and telling police to "put up or shut up".

Mr Davenport previously said the 30-bedroom property had been in an appalling state and his family had “worked like Trojans” in an effort to renovate it.

It has been described by English Heritage as one of the region’s most important buildings, and in 2014, the property, along with 25 acres of grounds, stables, courtyard, clock tower and cottages, was placed up for sale and marketed as a “substantial country house with an abundance of architectural delight”.

A reported sale to developers subsequently became mired in a legal dispute with Mr Davenport stating he remained the registered owner of the land and property.