TWO men accused of taking part in an alleged huge data protection fraud have appeared at Burnley Crown Court.

Father-of-three Mohammed Khatana, 43, and James Stuart, 53, were charged with swindling cash from UK firms through an official sounding organisation, the Data Protection Agency.

Both saw their cases adjourned until September 3 for pleas and directions after attending a preliminary hearing.

Khatana, of Hawkswood Gardens, Brierfield, was remanded in custody while Stuart, of Levesen Crescent, Balsall Common, Solihull, was granted bail by Judge Stuart Baker.

Between August 1, 2003, and May 11, 2004, in Nelson and elsewhere, they are believed to have conspired to dishonestly obtain by deception money by purporting to be the Data Protection Agency.

Khatana also faces an allegation he concealed criminal property, namely a sum of money, by means of using the services of Stuart, who held a bank account in the name of Adrian Colin Belford, trading as the Data Protection Agency, to receive, hold and transfer the money.

Stuart is also charged with being concerned in an arrangement which he knew or suspected facilitated the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property, namely a quantity of money, by or on behalf of Mohammed Khatana.