A FORMER Cirencester computer shop owner has avoided standing trial over fraud allegations for the third time.

William Rittman, 27, was charged with three counts of fraud, after allegedly failing to send customers in the Portsmouth area products they had paid for.

Mr Rittman was expected to stand trial at Portsmouth Crown Court on the week beginning March 23, but his case was postponed to September 1 - his case was then put back until the week beginning October 5.

On October 5, his case was put on a reserve list for that week meaning that it would only be heard if the court had time to deal with it.

The court was unable to hear the case and it has now been postponed until January 11, where it will definitely be heard as it is on fixed court list and not a reserve one.

A spokeswoman for the court said: “It has been listed for a fixed so it will definitely get on.”

Mr Rittman used to live in Cirencester and owned Rock Steady Computers on the Waterloo until he closed down the business in February this year.