Reading: HBOS Corruption Case Charges

9 January 2013, 05:51 | Updated: 9 January 2013, 12:34

Thames Valley Police has made charges in connection with an investigating into corruption and other offences originating from a bank in Reading.

Eight people have been charged in connection with business loans made through a high street bank to the value of around £35 million.

Thames Valley Police said the charges follow a large-scale investigation into corruption and other offences originating from the Halifax Bank of Scotland branch in Reading, Berkshire.

It follows an investigation carried out by the force's Economic Crime Unit (ECU), after the case was referred to the force by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) because the alleged offences originated from HBOS's Impaired Assets team based at Reading.

The charges are as follows:

  • David Mills, aged 56, of Todenham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to corrupt, three counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering.
  • Michael Bancroft, aged 69, of Ilmington, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to corrupt, three counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering.
  • Lynden Scourfield, aged 50, of Whitton Avenue West, Greenford, Middlesex, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to corrupt, three counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering.
  • Jacqueline Scourfield, aged 50, of Whitton Avenue West, Greenford, Middlesex, has been charged with one count of money laundering.
  • Mark Dobson, aged 52, of Brayfield Terrace, London, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to corrupt.
  • John Cartwright, aged 68, of Knott Lane, Hyde, Cheshire, has been charged with one count of fraudulent trading.
  • Alison Mills, aged 47, of Todenham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, has been charged with one count of money laundering.
  • Beverley Bancroft, aged 64, Ilmington, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, has been charged with one count of money laundering.

All eight have been released on bail to attend Reading Magistrates Court on the 18th January 2013.

Sue Patten, head of fraud at the CPS, said: "Following a thorough fraud and corruption investigation by Thames Valley Police, we have today authorised eight people to be charged in connection to business loans made through a high street bank to a value of around £35 million.

"Two former employees of HBOS, Lynden Scourfield and Mark Dobson, senior managers in Reading and Bishopsgate, have been charged with conspiracy to corrupt, contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977.

"Also charged as part of the same conspiracy to corrupt are David Mills and Michael Bancroft of Quayside Corporate Services (QCS), a turnaround consultancy.''