Dentist charged with faking his own death in £1.8m fraud

A dentist has appeared in court charged with faking his own death to defraud £1.8million.

Neil McClaren, 46, previously known as Emmanouil Parisis, was thought to have died suddenly in Jordan last year.

But he was arrested in Peterhead, Scotland, on Tuesday in connection with an alleged £1.8million fraud.

Police say the arrest followed a complaint from the NHS and other financial institutions that monies had been wrongly paid out to his estate.

His wife Stiliani Theodoropoulou, 40, was arrested at an address in Barnstaple, Devon, were the couple used to live.

Nikoletta Theodoropoulou, 41, was also arrested in Scotland in connection with the investigation.

The three appeared at Exeter Magistrates Court in Devon on Thursday (24/06) charged with conspiracy to defraud and were remanded in custody until July 9.

Parisis was previously listed as a dental practitioner at St John’s Dental Centre in Barnstaple but his name no longer appears on the General Dental Council register.

A police spokesman said: ”Three people have been charged with conspiracy to defraud financial institutions in excess of £1.8 million.

”This follows a complaint that monies had been wrongly paid out following the alleged sudden death of Mr McClaren in Jordan last year.”