HBOS business loans: Ninth person charged Published duration 9 May 2013

A former solicitor has become the ninth person to be charged in connection with a probe into business loans of up to £35m made through a high street bank.

Roger Hawes is accused of facilitating the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property.

Mr Hawes, 52, of Front Street, Churchill, Winscombe, North Somerset, is also charged with conspiracy to transfer criminal property.

He was released on bail to appear at Reading Magistrates' Court on 4 June.

The loans allegedly came from a Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) branch in Reading.

The others charged include former senior managers at HBOS, Lynden Scourfield, 50, and Mark Dobson, 52.

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 alleged offences committed by the other eight defendants 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 has said.

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, 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, of Knott Lane, Hyde, Cheshire, is charged with one count of fraudulent trading.

Mrs Scourfield, Mrs Mills and Mrs Bancroft are each charged with one count of money laundering.

The eight other defendants are due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 19 July.