A former IT business manager of an art gallery and shop in Falmouth appeared before magistrates last week facing 13 charges of theft and four of fraud.

Matthew Charles William Dobson, 25, of Longfield in Falmouth, entered no pleas when in court on Wednesday, but indicated he would admit the charges when his case goes before Truro Crown Court on July 1.

Dobson is accused of stealing a book of paintings by Rolf Harris, valued at £295, and five paintings by Kerry Darlington worth a total of £3,975 from the Driftwood Gallery.

He is further charged with six counts of stealing money totalling £5,003.59 and the theft of a Mac mini computer, a mouse, six hard drives, a monitor and a keyboard worth £1,349.84 – all belonging to the gallery.

The thefts are said to have taken place on various dates between August 2012 and July 2013.

Dobson is also accused of dishonestly abusing his position as IT business manager at the gallery on four occasions between December 2012 and April 2013 by falsely representing that invoices totalling £2,729.59 were genuine.

The magistrates deemed the alleged offences too serious for them to deal with so have sent the case to the crown court. Dobson was released on bail on the condition he does not contact, directly or indirectly, three named prosecution witnesses.