Update: At a court hearing on 29 March 2022, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) offered no evidence against Julian Hanson, 57, Lea Road, Batley, who was also charged with fraud by abuse of position. The case against Mr Hanson, who pleaded not guilty on a previous occasion, is now concluded and a verdict of not guilty has been formally entered by the court. This update supersedes previous court appearances.
A 61-year-old man has been extradited from Spain in connection with a pension fraud prosecution brought by The Pensions Regulator (TPR).
Alan Barratt, of Brooklands, Burnham Rd, Althorne, Essex, was arrested in Alicante, Spain, under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates’ Court and then extradited to the UK.
This is the first time TPR has worked with the police to secure the extradition of a suspect.
Barratt appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today (20 March) where he was released on conditional bail (including to remain in the UK and surrender his passport). The case was adjourned until April 13 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court when it is expected the case will be sent to the crown court.
He will appear with two other people who are also charged by The Pensions Regulator with fraud by abuse of position arising from their roles as trustees of pension schemes. TPR alleges that between 2012 and 2014, 245 savers were persuaded to transfer their pension savings totalling £13.7 million into 11 pension schemes, controlled by the defendants.
Barratt’s co-defendants are Susan Dalton, 65, of Geneva Terrace, Rochdale, Greater Manchester and Julian Hanson 56, of Lea Road, Batley. Dalton first appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 8 January having been arrested on warrant. Hanson appeared on summons on 29 January. None of the defendants have entered a plea.
Note to editors
- Barratt was extradited by officers from the Metropolitan Police.
- TPR is the regulator of work-based pension schemes in the UK. Our statutory objectives are: to protect members' benefits; to reduce the risk of calls on the Pension Protection Fund (PPF); to promote, and to improve understanding of, the good administration of work-based pension schemes; to maximise employer compliance with automatic enrolment duties; and to minimise any adverse impact on the sustainable growth of an employer (in relation to the exercise of the regulator’s functions under Part 3 of the Pensions Act 2004 only).
