A Newhaven man charged with fraud and money laundering relating to alleged incidents where people were told their neighbours' properties had been flooded with raw sewage has appeared in court.
George Wickens is accused of conning 34 people out of money after allegedly telling them the flooding had originated from their property and required specialist equipment to be hired and a returnable deposit to be paid, the South East regional organised crime unit (Serocu) said.
The 23-year-old, of Iveagh Crescent, appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by making a false representation and conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or remove criminal property.
The charges relate to alleged incidents in Sussex, Surrey, Hertfordshire, London and Devon, between October 2013 and April 2014, police said.
Wickens was remanded in custody and will next appear at Lewes Crown Court on April 30.
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