A UNEMPLOYED man is accused of using stolen credit cards to buy thousands of pounds worth of goods by pretending to be the personal shopper of an African government minister.

Hakeem Ibrahim Mabinvitori, 40, of Bond Street, Stoke-on-Trent, appeared at city magistrates charged with 12 fraud offences involving the purchase of items valued at £15,491 from Chester city centre shops at the end of August.

Cheshire Police claim the defendant told shop assistants he was the personal shopper of a government minister from the West African country of Senegal.

Mabinvitori was accused of fraudulently buying £4,100 worth of handbags and clothing from Olivia April in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre.

He is alleged to have used a stolen card to buy summer dresses and wedding dresses totalling £3,200 from A Day to Remember in City Road.

The defendant also faces charges in relation to 15 handbags purchased from La Bella Boutique in Eastgate Street worth £742.

Wedding shop Groom in Northgate Street was also said to have been targeted for clothing worth £1,000 along with Elspeth Mills in Watergate Street where suitcases and bags were purchased worth £500.

A total of 41 items from Crew Clothing in Bridge Street were alleged to have been fraudulently purchased for just over £2,000.

Saint Belle, in Bridge Street, was also alleged to have been targeted for goods valued at £2,200.

Mabinvitori, originally from Sierre Leone in Africa, was accused of fraudulently buying four rings from Yin Jewellery, St Werburgh Street, worth £550.

The case was adjourned until October 3 and will be sent to crown court on October 17. The defendant was remanded in custody.