Former Alsops lawyer struck off following #250,000 theft

A FORMER Alsop Wilkinson consultant who stole #250,000 of client cash while at the firm and then fled the country has been struck off.

A Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal heard on 8 October how in 1992 Tony Neary resigned from the firm, which has since become part of Dibb Lupton Alsop, after complaints from a former client.

Chris Bonney-James, acting for the Law Society, said the firm called in police after discovering #250,000 had been misappropriated from accounts. However, Neary had already left for South Africa, which had no extradition treaty with the UK at the time.

Bonney-James said Neary returned of his own accord and was tried at Liverpool Crown Court this April, where he admitted 12 charges of theft and was jailed for five years. Bonney-James told the tribunal that Neary had admitted to offences of dishonesty and breach of trust in relation to his old firm and its clients.