A 51-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with a scam involving threats to small firms with bailiffs if they didn’t make an immediate payment of overdue taxes.

Reginald Gregory, of Ivinson Road, Darwen, was sent on bail to Preston Crown Court where he will appear on April 27. 

MORE TOP STORIES:

He is charged with Proceeds of Crime Act offences by allowing an account to be used for the payment of thousands of pounds worth of cash from five individuals in conjunction with the suspected scam.

£4,710 from Phillip Keefe, £2,782 from Emma Riley, £4,928 from Anthony Hubbard. £3,953 from Pauline Bartlam, and £3,600 from Robert Whittingham.