Four due in court after property fraud probe

Four men have been charged with participating in a fraudulent business after the collapse of a property development business in York.

Two, aged 46 and 64, are from Yorkshire, a 54-year-old is from Towcester in Northamptonshire and a 41-year-old is from Longfield in Kent. Police have declined to name the men.

The four are due to appear before York magistrates on September 22.

The charges relate to a York-based property club, Challenor Property Developments, which dealt in the bulk sale of buy-to-let property in the UK and overseas until its collapse in 2008.

The firm had been run by Chris Douglas and Richard Hodgson.

A lengthy investigation followed after more than 180 people from across the UK contacted North Yorkshire police, claiming they had lost investments of between £5,000 and £58,000. It is understood most had contacted the firm via the internet, and it is believed some of the investors were from as far afield as Australia and Russia.

Three other people arrested during the investigation, believed to be family members of two of those due in court, have been released without charge.