Mark Acklom: ‘MI6 conman’ on Britain’s most wanted list appears in court after being extradited from Switzerland

He appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Saturday
PA
Sophie Williams23 February 2019

One of Britain’s most wanted fugitives has appeared in court after being extradited from Switzerland.

Mark Acklom, 45, allegedly fleeced a woman out of her £850,000 life savings by posing as an MI6 spy in a romance scam.

He was escorted to Bristol Airport from Geneva by specially trained officers on Friday, Avon and Somerset Police said.

The force said he appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Saturday, and will now face Bristol Crown Court on March 25.

Police said Acklom was named as one of the UK's most wanted fugitives as part of Operation Captura, a multi-agency initiative involving the National Crime Agency and Crimestoppers to track down British fugitives abroad.

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

He was detained in Zurich in June last year with the help of Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Police.

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

Ms Woods, 61, claimed that Mr Acklom tricked her into lending him £850,000 to renovate properties in Bath.

He was described as a smooth-talking former public schoolboy.

Additional reporting by PA.