Six charged in '£5m ticket fraud'

Rebecca Adlington's parents are believed to be among the victims

Six people have been charged over an alleged £5m online fraud involving ticket sales for the Beijing Olympics and other sporting and music events.

Terence Shepherd, Margaret Canty-Shepherd, Alan Schaverien, Geert van Meel, Alan Scott, and Cyril Gold are facing various fraud charges.

The allegations are in connection with Xclusive Tickets Limited and Xclusive Leisure & Hospitality companies.

They are due before magistrates in Camberwell, London, on 15 October.

The parents of double Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington, Steve and Kay Adlington, are believed to be among the victims.

They lost £1,100 attempting to buy tickets for the Beijing games last year.

Football tickets

Mr Shepherd, 51, from Blackheath, south-east London, Mr Schaverien, 65, from Surrey, Mr Scott, 55, from Essex, and Mr Gold, 67, from Harrow Weald in north-west London, are charged with fraudulent trading in relation the operation of the Xclusive companies.

Mr Shepherd and Mr Scott are also charged with fraud relating to the unauthorised sale of football tickets by the Xclusive companies.

Mr Shepherd and Mr van Meel, 52, from Surrey, are charged with fraud offences relating to the unauthorised sale of football tickets by the Online Ticket Exchange Ltd.

Mr Shepherd and Ms Canty-Shepherd, 49, also from Blackheath, are both accused of money laundering.

And Mr Shepherd also faces a further charge of breaching a directors disqualification order.