Three people have appeared in court in London today in connection with an investigation into an alleged £13.7m pension fraud. 

Alan Barratt, Susan Dalton and Julian Hanson appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with fraud by abuse of position as part of a criminal prosecution by The Pensions Regulator (TPR).

Ms Dalton, 65, of Geneva Terrace, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to the charge. 

Mr Barratt, 61, of Burnham Rd, Althorne, Essex, indicated a not guilty plea to the charge and Ms Hanson, 56, of Lea Road, Batley, gave no indication of a plea. 

All three defendants were released on conditional bail and ordered to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 11 May.

The TPR alleges that between 2012 and 2014, 245 savers were persuaded to transfer their pension savings totalling £13.7m into 11 pension schemes, controlled by the defendants.