Brit who posed as spy and Swiss banker to swindle lover deported to UK
British conman Mark Acklom, who was arrested in Zurich last year over accusations he conned a woman out of her life savings, has arrived back in the UK after a Swiss court rejected his claims he should not be deported because of Brexit.
Acklom, who faces charges related to 20 fraud offences, arrived in the UK on Friday evening, British media reported.
Mark Acklom who is wanted in the UK on 20 fraud charges after he allegedly stole the life savings of a woman from Gloucestershire has arrived back in the country he fled in 2012
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) February 22, 2019
His deportation came after the Swiss Federal Supreme court dismissed his claim that he should not be sent back to the UK because Brexit could mean that European human rights guarantees might cease to apply in the UK.
The court was not impressed and ruled the human rights situation in the UK was not a barrier to deportation, Swiss tabloid Blick reported.
Acklom was arrested in dramatic circumstances in the canton of Zurich last year after he jumped from a balcony at an apartment in Wädenswil to try and evade police.
He is accused of posing as a Swiss banker during a year-long relationship with Carolyn Woods, 61, during which he allegedly tricked her into lending him £850,000 (960,000 Swiss francs) for property development.
She said he told her the banking job was a cover and he was really an agent with Britain's foreign intelligence spy agency MI6, according to a statement from the National Crime Agency.
A Europe-wide manhunt was launched when he disappeared.
Acklom was traced first to Spain and then to Switzerland, where he was arrested, living under a fake name with his wife and two children.
Comments
See Also
Acklom, who faces charges related to 20 fraud offences, arrived in the UK on Friday evening, British media reported.
Mark Acklom who is wanted in the UK on 20 fraud charges after he allegedly stole the life savings of a woman from Gloucestershire has arrived back in the country he fled in 2012
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) February 22, 2019
His deportation came after the Swiss Federal Supreme court dismissed his claim that he should not be sent back to the UK because Brexit could mean that European human rights guarantees might cease to apply in the UK.
The court was not impressed and ruled the human rights situation in the UK was not a barrier to deportation, Swiss tabloid Blick reported.
Acklom was arrested in dramatic circumstances in the canton of Zurich last year after he jumped from a balcony at an apartment in Wädenswil to try and evade police.
He is accused of posing as a Swiss banker during a year-long relationship with Carolyn Woods, 61, during which he allegedly tricked her into lending him £850,000 (960,000 Swiss francs) for property development.
She said he told her the banking job was a cover and he was really an agent with Britain's foreign intelligence spy agency MI6, according to a statement from the National Crime Agency.
A Europe-wide manhunt was launched when he disappeared.
Acklom was traced first to Spain and then to Switzerland, where he was arrested, living under a fake name with his wife and two children.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.