A BOURNEMOUTH businessman, his associate and a woman will appear in court charged with fraud.

Poole-based Richard Carr, who has had a string of businesses in Bournemouth and Poole over the last 25 years, and Susan Burgess, 51, and associate James Beedham, 38, have been charged in connection with allegations of mortgage fraud, the theft of corporate funds, the concealment of bankruptcy assets and breaches of a Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking involving the operation of nightclubs and other businesses.

Senior Investigating Officer Craig Travers, of Dorset Police, said: “These charges have arisen following a comprehensive and exhaustive two-year joint investigation by Dorset Police together with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

"This has been and continues to be an involved, complex investigation.”

All three will appear at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court on at 9.30am on February 28.