Bunyard is accused of abusing his position as a director of Rightspec Recruitment in Bury St Edmunds, in the process gaining £17,949.

He appeared before Bury St Edmunds magistrates on Tuesday facing a single charge of fraud for an offence alleged to have taken place between March 31 2009 and May 9 2009.

The case was adjourned until 19 July when it will be committed to crown court. No pleas were indicated and Bunyard was released on unconditional bail.

Between 2001 and 2008, Bunyard was involved with a string of print companies.

In 2002, he was a director of SMS Howard Labels, which came under fire when employees were left without pay. A few months later, employees at Bunyard's company Multiplex Techniques (UK) also hit out after being left in limbo while the business had ceased trading.

After a few quiet years, Bunyard reappeared in the industry in 2006 as director of Alliance PM, which bought Carter Litho out of administration and in 2007 as director of failed printer W3 Litho, which faced union grievance when staff went unpaid.

In 2008, Bunyard was connected to Abbey Green Repro, which bought Claremont Press out of administration. Although not actually a director of the company, managing director Andy Hay quite the company citing issues with Bunyard who he alleged to be behind the buyout.

Bunyard was also briefly director at Capital Print and Display, which closed down amid rumours of fraud. Owner David Gill and his family had their assets frozen before facing misconduct charges, although the case was settled out of court.

He was banned from being a director for 12 years in June 2009.

Update (8 December, 2014): According to Paul Rextrew, consultant for Blackfords who represented Bunyard in respect of the fraud allegations: “The prosecution decided not to proceed, all charges were dropped and verdicts of Not Guilty were entered.”