A former insurance agent has appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court charged on 116 charges of deception and theft involving over more than $550,000 in policy fees.

John Raymond Burton-Clay, of Guildford, was charged under the Victorian Crimes Act. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission alleges he deceived hotel proprietors in regional Victoria by purporting to arrange policies that contained both property damage and public liability insurance.

The regulator alleges the public liability component was never arranged and Mr Burton-Clay received the difference. It also says he arranged premium funding for some of the hotel proprietors.

In February last year the Federal Court ordered Mr Burton-Clay to return more than $213,430 to clients as compensation and he was also prohibited from participating in the financial services industry for life.

He will next appear in the County Court of Victoria on August 11.