A CONMAN has admitted selling a fake Rolex to gain thousands of pounds.

Elliss Cross has admitted conning his unaware victim out of £6,000 by selling him counterfeit goods.

The 28-year-old of Concord Road, Canvey, admitted to fraud by false representation at Basildon Crown Court on Friday.

On April 29 last year, in Benfleet, Cross sold a man the counterfeit Rolex wristwatch while passing it off as a real one, which was worth considerably more.

Cross pocketed £6,000 in gains from the sale, until the crime was reported to the police and he was later arrested and charged with fraud.

Cross is also accused of intimidating a witness in relation to the case.

The Crown Prosecution Service say his alleged actions were a deliberate attempt to intimidate a witness.

However, Cross denied the charge when it was put to him at court.

He stood in the dock, dressed in a white shirt and spoke only to confirm his name and nationality, plus enter his pleas.

A trial on the intimidation charge will be held at the same court on the week beginning June 8.

Judge Samantha Cohen told Cross that he would be released on bail, and would not be sentenced for fraud until the trial into the intimidation offence had concluded.

Cross was released on bail until the hearing.

If he is found guilty of intimidation, he could face prison for that and the crime of fraud by false representation.