Nine charged over alleged mobile scam run from Swansea

NINE people have been charged with conspiracy to defraud over an alleged large-scale UK-wide mobile phone insurance scam run from Swansea.

They are due to appear in court on Thursday following a major investigation by South Wales Police's economic crime unit which has lasted several years.

The accused come from addresses in Sketty, Manselton and Brynmill as well as Port Talbot and Bristol.

A spokesman for South Wales Police, said: "This investigation into the alleged fraudulent sale of mobile telephone insurance from a Swansea premises has identified suspected victims throughout the United Kingdom and has resulted in nine people being arrested and charged with conspiracy to defraud.

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"It has been a long and complex criminal investigation over several years conducted by the South Wales Police economic crime unit."

The accused are Christopher John Surman of Rembrandt Court, Sketty, Wayne Ghosh, of Coedfan, Sketty, Mark Rees, of Cedric Close, Sketty, Andrew Malcolm Patterson of St Helen's Road, Helen Leanne Lewis of Monterey Street, Manselton, Craig Steven Odger of Park Place in Brynmill and Craig Pitman of Crown Street in Port Talbot, along with Christopher Davies, of Bickleigh in Plymouth and Omar Humayan Mapara, of Portishead near Bristol, all of whom have been charged with conspiracy to defraud.

Catrin Evans, from the Crown Prosecution Service Wales, said they had been working alongside South Wales Police as the force's investigation into a suspected fraudulent insurance selling operation developed.

She said: "I can now confirm that, having carefully considered the evidence gathered so far by South Wales Police, we have decided that there is sufficient evidence to charge nine individuals with conspiracy to defraud, and that it is in the public interest to do so."