Fraudster will not attend court hearings in person

Mark Acklom previously admitted defrauding his girlfriend out of her life savings

A fraudster jailed after conning his ex-girlfriend out of her life savings will not attend court in person for a confiscation hearing.

Mark Acklom convinced Carolyn Woods, who he met in Gloucestershire, that he was an MI6 agent and a Swiss banker to swindle her out of £300,000 during a year-long relationship in 2012.

Since the 52-year-old admitted five counts of fraud against Ms Woods, prosecutors have worked to recover her money through the Proceeds of Crime Act meaning he could have to repay the money or face additional jail time.

A final confiscation hearing is listed at Bristol Crown Court before Judge Martin Picton - who jailed Acklom in 2019 - on 18 and 19 December.

A series of hearings have been held over the past five years to establish Acklom's available assets.

Acklom appeared before Mr Picton, the prosecution and defence teams via a video link without a camera earlier.

No details were given of his location, but he has a wife and two children living in Spain, where he was extradited in 2021 after having fled when he was briefly on parole during an appeal against a fraud sentence he was serving.

Acklom, who told Ms Woods he was an MI6 agent during their year-long relationship in Bath in 2012.=, spoke only to confirm he was present.

When Mr Picton asked if the fraudster would attend the final two court hearings in person, Martin Sharpe, defending, said Acklom would attend remotely again "with the benefit of a screen" from a video conference room at a legal firm.

Mr Sharpe added that Acklom "had to make all the arrangements himself".