Ex-footballer Ronnie Wallwork faces criminal charges

Ronnie Wallwork is due in court on 31 January.

Ex-Man Utd and West Bromwich Albion player Ronnie Wallwork has been charged with concealing criminal property.

Mr Wallwork, 33, of Mather Street, Failsworth, Greater Manchester, was arrested in connection with offences relating to stolen cars.

Siobhan Johnston, 34, of Askett Close, Newton Heath, Manchester, is also accused of concealing criminal property as part of the same investigation.

Both are due to appear in court at Preston on 31 January.

Four other men have been charged in connection with a security guard's shooting during a robbery in Preston, as part of the same investigation.

Covert investigation

Lancashire Police stressed however that the allegations relating to Mr Wallwork and Ms Johnston were not connected to the Preston shooting.

A police statement said: "The arrest and charges follow a protracted covert investigation, codenamed Operation Solomon, which has already seen four men charged with conspiracy to commit robbery between August and November 2010 in the north of England.

Stephen Anthony Sheil, 29, from Amos Avenue, Newton Heath, Manchester; Wayne Luke O'Day, 24, of Baytree Avenue, Middleton, Greater Manchester; Mark Cain, 48, of Ashfield Rise, Catterall, Preston; and Craig Bulger, 51, of Scotland Hall Road, Newton Heath, were all arrested in early November and have all been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery in the north of England.

Police said Mr Cain and Mr Bulger had also been charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and attempted robbery in connection with an attempted robbery that took place at Longsands Lane in Fulwood, Preston, on 26 March 2010.