Fake coronavirus test kit charge as man appears in court

A man has appeared in court accused of making fake coronavirus test kits and sending them across the world, police said.

Frank Ludlow, 59, of West Sussex, was arrested at a Post Office near his home on Friday after 60 Covid-19 kits were seized by police in the US.

The kits, which were intercepted by Customs and Border Protection Agency officers in Los Angeles on Wednesday, were labelled as "Anti-Pathogenic treatment" and had been sent from the UK, City of London Police said.

They allegedly contained chemicals which are "extremely harmful" given the user is instructed to wash and rinse their mouth with them, police said.

Ludlow was arrested by the City of London Police's Intellectual Property Crime Unit after it was contacted by its US counterparts.

Some of the components of the bogus test kits (City of London Police/PA Wire)

He appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Saturday charged with fraud by false representation, possession of articles for use in fraud, and unlawfully manufacturing a medicinal product.

Ludlow was remanded in custody until April 20.

Police believe some of the kits could still be in circulation and urged people not to use them.

Tariq Sarwar, head of operations for enforcement at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, said: "This joint co-operation and intervention with the City of London Police and the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] resulted in products claiming to be Covid-19 treatment kits being taken out of circulation, that otherwise could have endangered patients' health.

"We are encouraging people with health concerns to seek advice from a registered healthcare professional and only purchase medicines they need from an authorised seller.

"You should ensure you are buying your medicines and medical devices from a registered pharmacy or website only."

Detective chief superintendent Clinton Blackburn, from the City of London of Police, said: "If you have purchased one of these kits, it's important you do not use it. Instead, report it to Action Fraud via their website www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040 and quoting 'Trinity CV19 treatment kits'."