A businessman facing fraud, money-laundering and blackmail charges has been locked up for breaching his bail.

Jack Darrell Henry, 47, who ran several Huddersfield-based council tax claims firms, was remanded in custody when he appeared at Calderdale Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.

Henry, who ran firms including Reband (UK) Ltd and Council Tax Review, had been charged with four offences.

He last appeared at York Crown Court on October 4 and the case was transferred to Leeds Crown Court for a case management hearing on January 17 next year.

He was allowed bail with several conditions, one of which banned him from canvassing for new business or contacting new customers either directly or indirectly.

Henry was arrested by a police officer in Halifax last Thursday and appeared at Calderdale Magistrates’ Court the following day.

He denied breaching the canvassing bail condition but magistrates found the charge proved.

His bail was revoked and he was remanded in custody until the next hearing in January.

Henry, of Lodge Lane, Norristhorpe, Liversedge, is charged with conspiracy to defraud; money-laundering; conspiracy to blackmail; and acting as a company director while disqualified.

He was charged in April this year after an investigation – dubbed Operation Belle – by the regional Scambusters team, a specialist arm of Trading Standards run from York.

It is understood Trading Standards received more than 400 complaints and took more than 100 statements from alleged victims.

Customers were asked for up-front fees of around £175 for the firms to launch appeals against council tax banding.

Four others have also been charged.

Henry’s partner Shahla Marie Rezai, 28, of the same Liversedge address, is accused of conspiracy to defraud and money-laundering.

Also facing the same charges are saleswoman Wendy Ann Smith, 38, of Illingworth Road, Illingworth, Halifax, and Asif Iqbal, 42, of Hall Bower, Newsome.

John Charles Boon, 58, of Park Spring Rise, Leeds, is accused of conspiracy to defraud, demanding money with menaces and money-laundering.

A six-week trial could start at in July next year.