Fugitive accused of conning woman out of £850,000 arrested
THE West Country’s most wanted fugitive who is accused of posing as a spy in order to con his then girlfriend out of her life savings has been arrested in Switzerland in an operation involving Avon and Somerset police.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed that alleged fraudster Mark Acklom 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 Carolyn Woods, 61, out of £850,000 after posing as an MI6 agent in a romance scam.
Ms Woods, from Bath, said they became a couple in 2012 when Acklom visited the boutique where she worked, in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, and told her he was a Swiss banker.
She said after the arrest: “Obviously I’m delighted that he’s been arrested. I’m hoping that he will be extradited and brought to trial in the UK.”
Acklom is 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 Mark 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 that 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 Ms Woods.
Acklom allegedly duped her into lending him her life savings for renovation work at a number of properties in Bath.
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.
I’m delighted that he’s been arrested. I’m hoping he will be brought to trial in the UK. Carolyn Woods