A HELENSBURGH man is to stand trial accused of conning more than £200,000 from women.

Christopher Harkins, 35, faces 44 charges involving 13 females spanning between 2013 and 2019.

The accusations also include attempting to murder one and filming the rape of another.

The indictment lists a series of alleged frauds against some of the women.

He is said to have got £72,525 from one between December 2018 and April 2019.

It is claimed he told her he had booked a holiday for them both and "required her share of the cost".

Mr Harkins also allegedly told the woman he would "invest" cash for her.

The charge further claims he had been threatened by a man for money and that he needed funds to pay "clients".

Mr Harkins also allegedly got £75,300 and 2,400 Euros from one of the women in late 2019.

Among the claims he is said to have made to her were that he needed money for a "training course" for a new job, and that he had again apparently been threatened by "unknown males".

Mr Harkins is accused of defrauding one of the women of £25,000.

Others are said to have been made to help pay for a holiday that did not exist.

He allegedly tried to murder one of the women in 2015 amid claims he compressed her throat and restricted her breathing.

Mr Harkins is accused of rape charges against another in 2018.

One of the allegations claims he "recorded" what was happening.

The indictment details a number of locations in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, Edinburgh, Stirling, Paisley and West Lothian.

The case called for a short hearing at the High Court in Glasgow today.

Mr Harkins' KC, Louise Arrol, said: "He pleads not guilty to all the charges."

Lord Matthews set a trial due to begin next July. The case could last around 10 to 12 days.