A Romanian mum-of-two who has denied being in the UK illegally and will appear before a crown court.

Raluca Constantine, 31, tearfully denied that she knowingly entering the country and was in breach of a deportation order made in December 2017 when she appeared in the dock flanked by security officers at Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, July 30.

The prosecution told the court that after her fingerprints were taken at Newtown Police Station on Monday, July 29, and enquiries were made with the Home Office it revealed that she had entered the country through Birmingham Airport earlier in the month.

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Owain Jones, acting on behalf of Constantine, told magistrates that it is a defence not to be aware of the order.

Magistrates were told that the maximum sentence could be five years immediate custody if she was found guilty following a trial.

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Sarah Sargent, chair of the magistrates' bench, said the case was "out of our jurisdiction and it needs to go up to the crown court".

Constantine, of Crawshaw Road, Ottershaw, Chertsey, Surrey, cried when she was denied bail.

She was told that she must remain in prison until her plea and trial preparation hearing which will be held at Mold Crown Court on August 22.