A Shropshire businessman accused of laundering proceeds from his son’s £175,000 fraud on HSBC is facing a possible retrial. Alan Baker allegedly plotted with his son Timothy.

It is claimed the 58-year-old, of Lydbury North, plotted with his son to hide the funds from an invoice “factoring agreement” designed to help company cashflow.

The father was cleared of conspiring with his 35-year-old son to defraud the bank following a trial at Southwark Crown Court.

But jurors failed to reach a verdict on a second charge of conspiracy to launder money.

Prosecutors will confirm at a hearing next month whether to pursue a possible retrial early next year, it was decided yesterday.

Numerous payments passed through Baker’s Midlands firm MRS Stone Contractors during several months last year, jurors had heard.

Alan Baker was cleared of conspiracy to defraud and continues to deny conspiracy to launder money between January and June of last year.

Baker’s son, Timothy – a “consummate fraudster” who was bankrupt, on bail for another fraud against the Royal Bank of Scotland at the time and using the surname “Hench” – and his accomplice Stephen Roberts, 47, of Wolverhampton, have admitted their parts in the scam, the crown court had previously heard.

Timothy Baker, now of Wolverhampton Road, Walsall, used to live in Shifnal.

John Williams, prosecuting, previously told the court Timothy Baker was “plainly” the brains behind the scheme.