A LAWYER described by his own barrister as unfit to be a solicitor after he had forged a dying client's will has failed with an appeal over his conviction and sentence.

Legal Executive John William Burrows, formerly of Crossnapend Barn, Chipping, was found guilty last year of altering the will of ex-butcher Leslie Barnes as he lay gravely ill in Burnley Hospital, where he died on August 18, 1995.

He also fiddled the law firm he worked for by using fraudulent cheques and was sentenced to four and a half years at Liverpool Crown Court last year after being convicted of forgery, using a forged instrument, and five counts of procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception.

Mr Justice Rougier, sitting at London's Criminal Appeal Court, refused him leave to appeal against both convictions and sentence, saying his actions had brought the profession into disrepute.

He said the alterations comprised 'a number of surprises' for relatives, including two new legacies to the tune of about £2,000.

He said: "It is a grave aggravating factor that he was in a position of trust. Public confidence in the profession is gravely undermined by offences of this nature."

Burrows' actions were uncovered when it emerged that the manufacturers of the paper on which he forged the will had changed their watermark for the first time in 100 years.

His barrister at the appeal admitted Burrows' career had already been 'blighted' by convictions for dishonesty while he was a trainee and said: "On these convictions he is unfit to be a solicitor."