Former Barclays chief executive John Varley today became the first major bank boss to appear in court to face charges over his actions during the financial crisis

Varley and three other former Barclays executives appeared in the dock in a West London court to face fraud charges linked to deals they struck to secure emergency Middle Eastern funding during the financial crisis. Lawyers representing Varley and Roger Jenkins, a former senior Barclays investment banker, said their clients intended to plead not guilty to the charges. A lawyer representing Barclays, which was also charged, said the bank hadn't yet come to a decision on its own position.