Mark Acklom: Police bring British 'most wanted' man back to UK on fraud charges

One of Britain's Most Wanted fugitives has been brought back to the UK after a six year police investigation and a long extradition battle.

Mark Acklom faces fraud and money laundering charges after allegedly promising to marry a woman and then fleecing her of her £850,000 life savings.

Acklom, 45, was arrested in Switzerland in June, but fought two appeals to avoid being sent back to face justice.

Last week, the Swiss Supreme Court rejected Acklom's argument that in a post-Brexit Britain his human rights would not be guaranteed.

He was handed over to Avon and Somerset police officers at Geneva airport and flown to Bristol on an easyJet flight.

He sat in the back row, handcuffed between two detectives, and was the first passenger on and the last off the aircraft.

He will spend the night at Patchway police station and is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates Court on Saturday morning, where he faces around 20 charges.

His alleged victim is Carolyn Woods, 60, a divorcee he met when he walked into her boutique in Gloucestershire in January 2012.

When he vanished a year later she told police he had duped her into lending him her life savings.

Police originally thought he was in Spain, but eventually discovered him in Switzerland, living with his wife and two young daughters in a luxury apartment overlooking Lake Zurich.

Ms Woods told Sky News: "I've waited a long time for this moment and hope that the full weight of the law can be brought to bear, and that justice will be done."

Chief Inspector Gary Haskins, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "No matter where suspected criminals are in the world we will always do everything we can to track them down and bring them back to the UK to face justice.

"This extradition would not have been possible without the support of all our law enforcement partners and I'm extremely grateful for their assistance in helping us bring Acklom home to answer some very serious charges."

Ian Cruxton, Head of International Operations for the National Crime Agency said: "We have worked closely with our partners in Switzerland and Avon and Somerset Police to bring about this extradition and put Mark Acklom before the UK courts.

"This case once again demonstrates our ability to track down fugitives wherever they may be.

"The NCA's international reach means there is no safe place to hide for individuals wanted in the UK."