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A solicitor who admitted taking hundreds of kilos from purchasers while appearing as their energy of lawyer has been jailed.
Alison Haley Griffiths, 55, pleaded responsible to 2 counts of fraud by abuse of place and was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court docket to 24 months’ imprisonment.
Griffiths, who was practising in Swindon, stole round £49,000 over the course of greater than two years from a 94-year-old lady over whom she had energy of lawyer. She transferred cash from the sufferer’s account to her personal and used the girl’s account to withdraw substantial sums of money.
The matter was reported to police in 2021 after Griffiths admitted to her agency that she had stolen from the sufferer.
Once more appearing as energy of lawyer, the solicitor transferred round £35,000 into her personal account.
The offence was reported to police after the sufferer’s care supplier informed the household it had been unable to take fee for care on account of inadequate funds in his account. The sufferer died in Could final 12 months.
DC Dominic Maidment of Wiltshire Police mentioned: ‘These are two terrible conditions the place Griffiths has taken benefit of her place and stolen tens of hundreds of kilos from two weak adults, one in every of whom is unfortunately now not with us.
‘As energy of lawyer, Griffiths was anticipated to safeguard the funds of the victims and act on their behalf of their finest pursuits. As an alternative, she has abused their belief by transferring important sums of cash from their accounts into hers, that means that in one of many instances, there was no cash to pay for the sufferer’s care.’
Alison Haley Griffiths was admitted to the roll in 2003 however has no present practising certificates. The SRA has mentioned that following her conviction it should pursue disciplinary proceedings.
‘We now have reviewed all instances and work dealt with by Alison Griffiths and are happy that that is an remoted case. We’re shocked and saddened on the behaviour of somebody who we considered a reliable colleague.’
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