A former X-Factor contestant has appeared in court charged with raping a string of women during the 1990s.
Phillip Blackwell, 55, is accused of a catalogue of sex offences involving five alleged victims - including rape, attempted rape and indecent assault.
On Monday the former supply teacher appeared before Leamington Magistrates Court' to face charges of being a serial rapist.
Blackwell, wearing a brown jacket, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and British nationality in a 20-minute hearing.
No application for bail was made and Blackwell was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Coventry Crown Court on February 24.
Blackwell achieved fleeting fame on the ITV talent show in 2008 when his bizarre version of Spandau Ballet's Gold failed to impress judges Cheryl, Louis and Simon.
He later went on to tour the county and perform alongside other stars at the X-Factor Live events in 2009 which featured Alexandra Burke and JLS.
The offences are alleged to have taken place in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, and Birmingham in the late 1990s - before his time on the show.
Blackwell was arrested last Wednesday and charged on Sunday with four counts of rape, an attempted rape and an indecent assault.
Baldiv Atwal, prosecuting, said: "The nature of the offences are serious in their own right.
"Mr Blackwell has no previous convictions and is a gentleman of good character.
"A historic series of rape allegations are in respect of a recent rape allegation. As a result of police investigations his DNA was linked these alleged offences."
District Judge Lesley Mottram said: "You will be remanded in custody. I send you to the crown court in Coventry where your next appearance will be on February 24."
Blackwell, of Launceston, Cornwall, was charged following a joint investigation between Warwickshire and West Midlands Police.
He is accused of raping two women in the Yardley and Selly Oak areas of Birmingham on on February 9, 1997 and November 22, 1997.
Blackwell is also charged with indecent assault of a woman in Bournville, Birmingham, on December 21, 1997.
He also faces an attempted rape charge of a woman in Frankley, Birmingham on February 3, 1998.
The final two rape charges relate to the alleged rape of a woman in Weddington, Nuneaton, on May 30, 1998.
During his TV appearance 12 years ago, the X-Factor flop told Cheryl how he hoped to achieve "multi platinum-selling albums, all over the world".
He also boasted that he believed there was nobody better in the UK charts than him at the time.
He then left Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh in stitches with his comical rendition of Gold in which he held the final note of the song for almost 30 seconds.
Described as a 43-year-old supply teacher at the time, he told the judges: "I think if you get me in the studio, I'll be able to get albums out there. Its a different act."
He later said: "Louis loved me but Simon didn't so it was left to Cheryl. I knew she wouldn't have the guts to go against Simon. She's gutless."
