THE jury in the case of a wheelchair-bound alleged fraudster who was accused of conning his victims out of more than £700,000, has been discharged because the defendant was unable to attend court.

It was alleged William MacIntyre, 53, tricked his alleged 19 victims out of the cash by duping them into buying what was essentially the same business.

MacIntyre, from Penponds, Camborne, West Cornwall, has multiple sclerosis and had to be brought to court by St John Ambulance.

The trial at Truro Crown Court began on June 19 and was scheduled to run for six weeks.

Due to MacIntyre's medical condition, the court only sat during the mornings.

During the trial his medical condition prevented him making it to court on a number of days.

Yesterday he was yet again too unwell to attend court, leading Judge Paul Darlow to discharge the jury.

Speaking after the hearing, prosecutor Philip Lee, said: "The jury was discharged due to the continuing health problems of the defendant.

"Investigations into Mr MacIntyre's health will now be carried out. The Crown Prosecution Service will have to consider whether or not to seek a retrial."

When prosecuting barrister Andrew Macfarlane opened the case he told the jury: "This defendant has defrauded many people of a total of more than £700,000 and he has been both methodical and merciless in the way he has gone about it.

"The defendant carefully created a business model as a vehicle for his fraud. As with many frauds, success depended on the creation of the deception and the natural willingness of many persons to suspend their disbelief when faced with the described certainty of making large amounts of money with relative ease."

The court had heard the alleged victims included a man who had been befriended by MacIntyre and who sold his sailing business so he could take over MacIntyre's firm.

It was argued in court MacIntyre had offered potential investors the chance to buy what was supposedly a highly profitable direct mail marketing firm complete with computer hardware, software and sometimes furniture and a website.

The alleged victims contacted MacIntyre after seeing advertisements and information either online or in the local and national press. Deposits and payments of tens of thousands of pounds were handed over by investors, the court was told.

Mr Macfarlane had said: "The unique selling point was that the defendant was giving up the running of the business having made a comfortable fortune."

Prosecutors said none of the 19 people who bought the business saw any return on their investment.

MacIntyre had denied 37 counts of fraud.