Dentist accused of faking his own death appears in court
A dentist accused of faking his own death has appeared in court.
Neil McLaren allegedly staged his own death in a car crash in Amman, Jordan so that he could claim thousands of pounds worth of insurance benefits; following his staged death, he then moved to Scotland with a new identity and set about claiming life insurance with his wife and sister-in-law. McLaren is a Greek national who was formerly known as Emmanouil Parisis; yesterday, he appeared at Exeter Crown Court with his sister-in-law and wife, who were believed to be in on the ploy.
McLaren was arrested in Peterhead in Scotland earlier this year; police had investigated the dentist after the NHS and other financial organisations raised suspicions about money being paid out as part of McLaren’s estate.
McLaren, his wife, Annabella and his sister-in-law, Nikoletta Theodoropoulou, have all been charged with fraud. Last year, after the alleged car crash, all three were involved in claiming money from 15 organisations, including the NHS pension fund, Virgin Money, National Westminster Life Assurance LTD and the British Dental Association’s Benevolent Fund.
In court yesterday McLaren and his accomplices denied six charges of fraud; McLaren is now being held in custody and the two women have been released on bail until the pre-trial hearing, which is due to take place next month. It is believed that McLaren has been removed from the General Dental Council register.
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