Fugitive accused of con posing as MI6 agent arrested in Switzerland

MARK ACKLOM, one of Britain’s most wanted fugitives, has been arrested in Switzerland, it was revealed yesterday.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed that the alleged fraudster was apprehended at a luxury apartment in Zurich where he had been living under a false name after more than two years on the run.

Acklom, 45, is said to have fleeced a woman out of £850,000 in life savings after posing as an MI6 agent in a romance scam.

Currently in custody awaiting extradition, he faces criminal proceedings for a total of 20 fraud offences when he goes before a British court.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued for Acklom in June 2016 and he was believed to be at large in Spain, having been released from a Spanish prison over a £200,000 property fraud.

In May last year he was spotted in Geneva, where he was believed to have been with his family.

Ian Cruxton, head of international operations for the NCA, said the hunt for Acklom “started in Spain but as soon as intelligence indicated he had moved to Switzerland, we utilised our assets there and worked closely with the Swiss authorities and Avon and Somerset Police to track him down”.

“We are committed to protecting UK citizens from criminals who seek to exploit them and, likewise, we are equally committed to protecting citizens in other countries.

“Like many fugitives Acklom believed he could remain at large by travelling around Europe, but our international reach means there is no safe place to hide.”

Acklom was arrested late on Saturday night after an operation involving the NCA, Avon and Somerset Police and the Swiss authorities.

He is accused of 12 offences of converting or removing criminal property and eight of fraud by false representation.

According to police he posed as a Swiss banker and MI6 agent during a year-long relationship with Carolyn Woods, 61.

Avon and Somerset Police Detective Inspector Adam Bunting said: “Acklom thought he could continue to evade capture by moving around Europe but we were determined to locate him and bring him back to this country.”

He added that they will continue to work with the relevant authorities to ensure he is extradited as soon as possible.

The investigation into Acklom began when Ms Woods reported to police that he posed as a Swiss banker and conned her into lending him £850,000.

She says he told her he was borrowing her life savings for renovation work at properties in Bath, Somerset.

They became a couple in 2012 when Acklom visited the boutique where Ms Woods worked and told her he was a Swiss banker. Her daughter Lara recalled how he took Ms Woods to Harrods on shopping trips, and encouraged her to move into a house he claimed he owned in The Circus in Bath.

She says Acklom treated Carolyn to a Volvo XC60 – which later turned out to be leased – and also claimed people wanted him dead. He then vanished, and claimed to be working undercover in Syria – telling Ms Woods the house was bugged to increase her paranoia.

By the end of 2013 Ms Woods was broke and could no longer afford the rent on the house in Bath.