Darwen legal firm 'left 580 clients out of pocket'

Ian Holland, 56, who ran his business from Railway Road, Darwen, was suspended indefinitely as a solcitor after admitting six breaches of accounting rules.

But the tribunal was told Holland, who did not attend the hearing due to ill health, was ‘a sick rather than wicked man’ who was ‘deeply ashamed and embarassed’.

Holland, from Egerton, was now said to be working night shifts as a carer for young people at a hostel in Runcorn.

The tribunal was told the 580 clients were fighting to get their money back.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard a raid by officials in revealed Hollands’ books were in disarray.

Investigators could not find a list of client liabilities during the raid in February 2007 and there were no bank statements from before October 2006, the tribunal was told.

“These reports indicated the lack of records reconciliation and the fact that money had been transferred to office account before the bills had been raised,” said Jayne Willets (corr), for the Solicitors' Regulatory Authority.

In the following December the company was taken over by the Law Society to protect customers' money, the tribunal was told.

When the firm was taken over there was a £216,000 shortfall in client accounts, Miss Willets said.

Holland admitted six breaches of solicitors accounts rules including wrongly transferring money from his clients accounts.

The solicitor was suspended indefinitely and ordered to pay costs which will be assessed Tribunal chairman Mr Peter Kempster said: “There was obviously a complete breakdown in practice management here.

”There was no dishonesty but there was clear incompetence.”

Gareth Edwards, defending, stressed there had never been an allegation of dishonesty against the father-of-three and presented the tribunal with glowing references.

He said: “I am satisfied we are dealing with a sick rather than a wicked man.”

“He is a quiet modest man and is deeply ashamed and embarrassed.”