A Cheshire-based lawyer has been jailed for nicking £150,000 from his clients.
54-year-old Steven Shepherd pleaded guilty this week to eight charges of theft and one of false accounting. He claimed that he had stolen money from his client accounts after being blackmailed by a mystery woman, and his barrister claimed that monthly payments of £3,000 were made to her. But Judge John Potter held that he took the money entirely for his own benefit in order to pay his tax bill and to cover his addiction to slot machines.
Shepherd stole the money between July 2009 and November 2011. When a financial audit of his firm uncovered the theft Shepherd was immediately dismissed and the police were notified.
Judge Potter said that Shepherd had caused "significant harm" to his practice, its employees, his partner, and to "the reputation of the legal profession". He ordered him to pay £45,000 to his former business partner, £100,000 to a client and £700 costs.
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54-year-old Steven Shepherd pleaded guilty this week to eight charges of theft and one of false accounting. He claimed that he had stolen money from his client accounts after being blackmailed by a mystery woman, and his barrister claimed that monthly payments of £3,000 were made to her. But Judge John Potter held that he took the money entirely for his own benefit in order to pay his tax bill and to cover his addiction to slot machines.
Shepherd stole the money between July 2009 and November 2011. When a financial audit of his firm uncovered the theft Shepherd was immediately dismissed and the police were notified.
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How he might have looked |
Judge Potter said that Shepherd had caused "significant harm" to his practice, its employees, his partner, and to "the reputation of the legal profession". He ordered him to pay £45,000 to his former business partner, £100,000 to a client and £700 costs.
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At least blow it on drugs, hookers and fast cars. It makes for a better story.