Blair Turgott is accused of using the victim’s card to withdraw £16,936 in cash slips at the casino on Old Park Lane in London’s Mayfair. Turgott, who now plays for Bromley, then converted the slips to cash and pocketed the money during the incident on 30th September last year, it is claimed.

The victim received a call from someone claiming to be an employee at his bank, telling him someone would be send to his address to collect his card so he could be issued a new one. It was not until he told his wife what had happened that they realised that almost £17,000 had been withdrawn from their account.

Turgott was arrested following an investigation by the Met’s fraud and linked crime unit. The player appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today where he denied one count of fraud by false representation and one count of converting criminal property.

His case was sent to Southwark Crown Court for a pleas and case management hearing on 26 May.

Turgott made one first-team appearance for West Ham in the FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest in January 2014.