Former Pool star charged with money laundering

Nile Ranger played for the club 14 times between 2014 and 2016, scoring twice.

Ranger, 25, of Tunnel Gardens, North London, was charged on Monday with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

He is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court today.

The charge follows an investigation by Detectives from FALCON, the Metropolitan Police's response to fraud and linked crime

The offences are alleged to have been committed on or around February 18, 2015 and relate to the fraudulent obtaining of bank details by telephone from a vulnerable person in order to gain access to the victim's savings.

Ranger was on the books at Blackpool at the time.

The striker was absent from the club from December 2014 prompting then boss Lee Clark to ask "If anyone can let us know where he is, send me a letter and we will go from there."

Ranger at the time said he was in London dealing with 'family issues'.

He returned in July 2015 and in September 2015 issued an apology in which he said he had been forced to overcome the death of two close friends.

Having taken up an option on Ranger's contract in summer 2015, the forward was released by Blackpool in February this year.

In the summer he signed a one-year deal with League One Southend United.