Senior HBOS banker 'was the golden goose given, money, luxury foreign travel and encounters with high class escorts to play his part in £245m scam'

Lynden Scourfield, 54, was allegedly involved in a 'corrupt relationship' with business consultant David Mills (pictured left), 60, which saw companies plunge into deep debt, between 2003 and 2007. Mills and five others were in the dock at Southwark Crown Court today accused of being involved in the alleged scam. He allegedly worked with Scourfield, who was lead director of impaired assets for HBOS (Halifax, Bank of Scotland), to find 'high risk' customers desperate for loans. The prosecution claimed that 'very large amounts' of money were paid from the customers to Quayside Corporate Services Ltd in high consultancy fees after securing the HBOS loans, run by Mills as a turnaround consultant. The court heard how Mills allegedly pumped Scourfield with 'money, lavish hospitality and sexual encounters with high class escorts' in a bid to corrupt him. Former banker and venture capitalist Mills was joined in the dock by HBOS banker Mark Dobson (centre), 55, fellow consultant Michael Bancroft (below far right), 73, and his wife Alison Mills (left), 51, who were also allegedly involved. Textile expert John Cartwright (below right), 71, and accountant Jonathan Cohen (top right), 57, are also on trial.The defendants deny the charges as the trial, expected to last almost six months, continues.