TWO men charged with involvement in an alleged £680,000 data protection fraud denied the allegation at Burnley Crown Court.

Father-of-three Mohammed Khatana, 43, and James Stuart, 53, are said to have swindled cash out of UK firms through an official sounding firm, the Data Protection Agency.

They also each face a further charge relating to money laundering and have pleaded not guilty.

The defendants are accused of conspiracy to obtain property by deception.

It is said that between July 2003 and May 2004 they conspired together, and with others, to get money by purporting that for a fee they would arrange registration under the Date Protection Act 1984, when they would not.

Khatana, of Hawkswood Gardens, Brierfield, and Stuart will face trial on November 29 and a pre-trial review will be on November 16. He was remanded in custody while his co-defendant was bailed. Stuart must live and sleep at Levesen Crescent, Balsall Common, Solihull, and observe a 11pm to 7am curfew.

He must also report to Solihull police station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 6pm and 7pm, and has entered sureties of £20,000, put up by his parents.