A group has appeared before magistrates in connection with an alleged fraud plot.

Ryan and Daniel Wright and Kerry McKay are accused of abusing their positions as, respectively, trainee manager and yard operatives at European Metal Recycling Limited to defraud their employer between March 2017 and October 2018.

Two others, Thomas Ballard and James Roche, face money laundering charges. Prosecutors claim credit in the men’s bank account of £3,549 and £3,737.50 respectively represents proceeds from the fraud.

Appearing before Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Daniel Wright, 29, of Ruskin Avenue, Ryan Wright, 26, of Winton Road, and Kerry McKay, 29, of Shakespeare Path, did not enter pleas to an allegation of conspiracy to commit fraud by abuse of position.

Thomas Ballard, 26, of Portal Road, and James Roche, 42, of Penhill Drive, entered no pleas to a charge of possession of criminal property.

They were bailed for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Swindon Crown Court on August 28.