A LAWYER who removed a suitcase of silver from an elderly ex-client’s home and colluded with her to deceive a UK government department has been fined £25,000 in the Royal Court.

Advocate Andrew Begg was found guilty of two counts of professional misconduct after he ‘failed to uphold the dignity and high ethical standard of the legal profession’, according to a court judgment.

A police investigation into the matter was dropped after it was decided there were no grounds for a criminal prosecution.

In his written judgment, the Bailiff Sir Michael Birt, said: ‘This was not a case of lack of integrity or dishonesty; the worst that could be said was that Advocate Begg assisted in the deception of the DWP, but he did so for motives of sympathy for his longstanding client rather than for any personal benefit.’

• See Tuesday’s JEP for full report