A SOLICITOR from Whitefield has been reprimanded for keeping £3,500 from clients in housing deals.

Conveyancer Michael White (55) failed to pay back money owed to customers after a sale had taken place.

He charged homebuyers the full amount for a local authority property land search but used a company who demanded a smaller fee.

The Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal heard White, blind since 1985, made a profit of £20 with each search.

Ms Emma Grace, for the Office of Supervision of Solicitors, said the lawyer made a total of £3,500 from the action. Law Society investigators discovered this money had been transferred from client accounts.

White, of Hawkstone Avenue, Whitefield, admitted failing to give homebuyers accurate information and taking money from client accounts over a six-month period in summer, 2001.

He shared some of the cash with fellow partners from Manchester-based firm William Bootland White, the hearing was told.

Ms Grace added: "Mr White says clients were told the search would not be a local authority one. He used one of many search groups which have sprung up in recent years called the Personal Search Group.

"But he agrees this fact has never actually been formally documented with clients.

"I am not suggesting that he deliberately did something that was against the clients' best interests. Mr White will state that a personal search is significantly quicker and that the client would not have lost out."

Mr George Marriott, defending, said White told his customers they were better served with a personal search.

"The mischief is in the fact that he did not refund the difference to his client," he said.

The tribunal heard how the father-of-two had been hit by a series of tragedies since 1985 when he became completely blind.

In 1998, his wife died after contracting inoperable cancer. Then in September, 2001, his partnership with William Bootland White came to an end.

The following year he was forced to stop practising as the sole partner in his own firm, contracted severe depression and later lost his home.

Mr Marriott added: "He is ashamed of what he has done and feels he has let down the profession."

White admitted charges of failing to give clients accurate information about costs, making withdrawals from client accounts and providing an inadequate professional service to clients.

He also admitted acting in a way which compromised, or was likely to compromise, his independence, integrity, the best interest of clients and the repute of the profession.

White denied acting in a situation where his own interests could be seen to conflict with those of his clients and the tribunal ruled this charge not proven.

Tribunal chairman, Mr Anthony Gibson, ordered White be reprimanded and pay £1,000 towards case costs.