SEVERAL men who were charged after police raids on scrap metal yards are set to appear at Oxford Crown Court next year.

Five men were charged after a raid at Smiths of Bloxham in May this year.

Peter Smith, 68, of Bloxham Road, Bloxham, appeared at Banbury Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday facing a charge of attempting to acquire and conceal criminal property.

Tommy Smith, 36, of Bloxham Road, Bloxham, Joey Smith, 23, of Milton Road, Adderbury, Henry Penfold, 21, of Tadmarton Road, Bloxham, and Matthew Miles, 25, of Main Street, Great Bourton, appeared at the court on December 14 to face the same charges.

All five will appear at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday, January 2.

Another four men were also charged with attempting to acquire and conceal criminal property after police searched TR Rogers Metal Recycling in Nuneham Courtenay in May.

Terence Rogers, 69, of High Street, Drayton St Leonard, Simon Rogers, 42, of Bromsgrove, Faringdon, Martin Pace, 35, of Abbott Road, Didcot, and Darren Andrews, 34, of Colwell Road, Berinsfield, appeared before Oxford magistrates on December 14.

They will all appear at Oxford Crown Court on March 8 next year.