A FORMER Edgware solicitor has been accused of being part of an alleged £50m mortgage fraud.

Simon Lawrence, 48, has been charged with conspiracy to obtain a money transfer by deception, after Cheshire Building Society reported him and five others to West Midlands Police.

The accusations go back to 2004, when Mr Lawrence worked as a partner at Darlingtons Solicitors, which is based in High Street.

The group, including solicitors and a property developer, are accused of buying six properties and transferring them between a network of companies at inflated prices using forged documents.

The group are alleged to have applied fraudulently for mortgage advances to the tune of £50m which were not paid back.

At the time of the alleged crimes, Mr Lawrence was a senior player in the law firm, which has an extensive network of clients across North West London and Hertfordshire. He ceased to work for the firm in March 2005 and left completely in May of that year.

The Serious Fraud Office investigated the claims and has the charged the group.

They are all due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on January 4 to face the charges.