A student posed as a sergeant in the British Army to con people into putting cash into a Help for Heroes bucket, a court heard.
Adam Kramer (20) waited on Bobby Moore Way, outside Wembley Stadium, on League One play-off final day, dressed in the military garb of the Royal Irish Regiment.
He was spotted holding a red charity bucket emblazoned with the Help for Heroes slogan by a police inspector, who grew suspicious because he was so young, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.
But Kramer, of Ryelands Close, Market Harborough, who is a member of the cadet force, denies any wrongdoing.
He said the money he collected would go to the charity, which supports wounded British soldiers.
Kramer denied one count of fraud by false representation and a further charge of possessing an article for use in fraud.
Dressed in a smart blue suit and green tie, and with his hands behind his back, he spoke only to confirm his identity and enter his pleas during the brief hearing.
"This is a fraud that has been aggravated by the fact that he has planned this by wearing a uniform of the Royal Irish Regiment – a sergeant's uniform," said prosecutor Edward Aydin.
"He is collecting money for Help for Heroes while wearing this uniform at a very large public station – the Wembley Park underground station.
"The inspector thought that he looked too young to be a serving officer in the regular army, approached him and said, 'Are you a serving soldier?'
"He said, 'Yes'.
"He claims he fully intended to pass all monies to the charity – he claimed he had been authorised."
It was said Kramer only collected £50 before being hauled away by the police.
Mr Aydin said the case was aggravated by Kramer's choice to wear an army uniform to facilitate a fraud directly linked to helping wounded soldiers.
It was not as "if he was dressed as a duck collecting for the RSPCA", he said.
District Judge Mark Studdart said: "The use of the uniform and the context of what has happened I think puts it just out of this court's league so I am going to say this is not suitable for summary trial."
Kramer was released on unconditional bail pending his next appearance at Blackfriars Crown Court on September 5.
