A notorious conman who posed as a wealthy banker and an MI6 agent to defraud a woman he promised to marry has been ordered to pay her £125,000 in compensation. The order concludes a lengthy five-year legal battle under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The Elaborate Fraud and International Manhunt
Mark Acklom, 52, was jailed for deceiving divorcee Carolyn Woods, convincing her to hand over her entire life savings. Posing as a sophisticated financier and secret agent, he built a relationship with her based on false promises of marriage. After draining her finances, leaving her penniless and suicidal, Acklom fled the UK.
His international run ended after Sky News tracked him down to Spain and Switzerland, leading to his extradition back to Britain in 2019. He was later extradited again to Spain to complete a previous sentence he had fled from.
A Five-Year Fight for Compensation
At Bristol Crown Court, a series of hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) finally determined the extent of Acklom's gains. Lawyers agreed that he had benefited by £710,000 from his fraud against Ms Woods. However, the court found that his traceable assets amounted to only £125,000.
Judge Martin Picton made a confiscation order for that full amount in favour of Ms Woods. He stated that Acklom had shown a "determination to bleed her dry" and had "deprived her of her dignity" using skills refined over years of deception.
Little Hope of Payment and Systemic Failure
Despite the order, Judge Picton was pessimistic about recovery, noting the chances "pretty much evaporated when he was extradited to Spain." The primary benefit, he said, is that the default two-year jail sentence attached to the order means Acklom can never safely return to the UK, potentially sparing other victims.
For Carolyn Woods, the process has been agonising. She told Sky News: "The whole thing has been a waste of time and only prolonged my distress for another six years." She criticised the criminal justice system as "unfit for purpose," adding, "The criminals must be laughing."
The case highlights the challenges victims face in securing financial redress even after their tormentors are convicted, with complex international movements often hindering asset recovery.
