A WOMAN who came forward as a witness in the trial of an alleged conman after seeing newspaper coverage of it has told how she met the defendant in Cirencester.

Georgina James was leaving Cirencester Rugby Club's beer festival in 2006 when she crossed the road and was stopped by Alexander De Rothschild-Hatton, who was sitting in a "flashy" blue BMW car.

Hatton, 49, of Bowling Green Road, Cirencester, is standing trial for allegedly swindling Cheltenham divorcee Christine Handy out of more than £300,000.

He denies seven charges of obtaining money transfers by deception and three of obtaining property by deception.

Ms James told Bristol Crown Court how the defendant said he knew her because she was at school with his brother, and he gave her a lift.

En-route, Ms James said the defendant told her he was the illegitimate son of the Rothschild banking family.

She said she gave the defendant her business card because he shared her interest in architecture and a few weeks later he phoned her and they met.

The defendant told her he was looking for finance for an exclusive eco-development build in the Cotswolds.

When they first met, Ms James said Hatton put his head out of the car window and said, "I believe you were at school with my brother."

She said she asked him for a lift to Chester Street, where her boyfriend lived, and as they drove the defendant told her his name was Alexander De Rothschild.

Ms James said she told the defendant she was working for a bespoke furniture maker in Cirencester, but was about to start a course in sustainable architecture and gave the defendant her card.

She said she was surprised when she heard from him a few weeks later and they arranged to meet in the café at Cheltenham's Waterstones branch.

Ms James said the defendant told her he was involved in putting together plans for an exclusive Cotswolds eco-build development.

She said he told her he was at the point of looking for finance. She told him she was not interested in his project financially, but she was from an academic point of view. However, they did not meet again.

The witness said Hatton also told her he was the illegitimate son of the Rothschild family and had been educated at Eton.

She said he had also told her he had been married to the daughter of a wealthy and influential man in the Netherlands.

She said he had styled himself as Alexander De Rothschild, adding: "He gave the air of a wealthy, well turned-out chap."

Proceeding