A pre-trial hearing has been held in a second case where Thames Valley Police sent undercover officers into a scrap yard.

Police raided Smiths of Bloxham, in Milton, near Banbury, in May last year and charged five men as part of Operation Symphony.

Peter Smith, 68, of Bloxham Road, Bloxham; 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, all deny charges of attempting to acquire and convert criminal property.

The men are bailed until their trial, which is due to start on November 4 this year.

The first trial brought to court as part of the same operation, concerning TR Rogers & Sons, again failed to continue yesterday because of a juror’s illness.