A Liverpool loss assessor and four other men will appear in court accused of conspiracy to defraud.

AXA and Zurich are insurers affected by the fraud, a Merseyside Police spokesman confirmed.

The charges relate to false reports of arson and burglary and fabricated claims over escape of water.

Liverpool-based loss assessor Martin Bookey will appear in Liverpool Crown Court on August 2 charged with four counts of conspiracy to defraud, the police spokesman said.

The other four men are also charged with counts of conspiracy to defraud.

The total value of the fraud was around £170,000

A Zurich spokesman said the insurer took allegations of fraud extremely seriously, and that the insurer has been helping the police with the investigation.

AXA were unavailable for comment.

The people charged were Martin Bookey, 51, of Canterbury Park, Liverpool; William Mitchell, 45, of Conifer Close, Walton; Alex Shaw, 39, of Griffin Close, Liverpool; Andrew Smith, 33, of Papillon Drive, Liverpool and Ross Smith, 67, of Southport Road, Liverpool.

The five accused were arrested in February and appeared in Liverpool City Magistrates court on May 31.

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