A MAN known as ‘Nick’, whose allegations sparked a VIP sex abuse probe, will stand trial next year charged with lying to police and fraudulently receiving £22,000 in compensation.

The 50-year-old, whose real identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons, accused of 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via videolink.

No pleas were entered, but his barrister Raymond Tully said: “We anticipate that the matter will be fully contested.”

Judge Paul Sloan QC, the Recorder of Newcastle, set a trial date for March 5, with the hearing scheduled to last six to eight weeks.

It will be heard in Newcastle, possibly by a High Court judge.

Nick’s claims about the existence of a VIP Westminster paedophile ring led to Operation Midland, which saw the homes of figures including Lord Bramall and the late former home secretary Lord Brittan raided.

However, the £2.5 million Metropolitan Police investigation closed having found no evidence of any wrongdoing.

In September 2017, Northumbria Police passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service which led to Nick being charged.