Charges in £35m HBOS loans probe

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

The loans originated from the Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) branch in Reading, Berkshire.

Among those charged are former senior managers at HBOS, Lynden Scourfield, 50, and Mark Dobson, 52.

Thames Valley Police said the charges follow a large-scale investigation into corruption, fraud and money laundering.

Wives charged

David Mills, 56, and Michael Bancroft, 69, of Quayside Corporate Services, a turnaround consultancy have also been charged, along with a fifth man, John Cartwright, 68.

The other defendants are three of the men’s wives, Jacqueline Scourfield, 50, Alison Mills, 47, and Beverley Bancroft, 64.

The charges follows an investigation carried out by Thames Valley Police’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU), after the case was referred to the force by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

The alleged offences originated from HBOS’s Impaired Assets team based at the Reading branch.

Mr Scourfield and Mr Dobson were senior managers based at Reading and Bishopsgate, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

All eight will appear before Reading Magistrates’ Court on 18 January.

• Lynden Scourfield, of Whitton Avenue West, Greenford, West London, is charged with one count of conspiracy to corrupt, three counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering.

• Mark Dobson, of Brayfield Terrace, London, is charged with one count of conspiracy to corrupt.

• David Mills, of Todenham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, is charged with one count of conspiracy to corrupt, three counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering.

• Michael Bancroft, of Ilmington, of Ilmington, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, is charged with one count of conspiracy to corrupt, three counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering.

• John Cartwright, 68, of Knott Lane, Hyde, Cheshire, is charged with one count of fraudulent trading.

• Jacqueline Scourfield, Alison Mills and Beverley Bancroft are each charged with one count of money laundering.