A long-serving one-firm solicitor who stole almost £250,000 from multiple clients has been struck off the roll.
Fiona Parsons qualified as a solicitor in 1998 with Hereford firm Lambe Corner and went on to be partner for 10 years before continuing as a conveyancing solicitor from 2012.
But she was suspended and then dismissed in 2023 after the firm had contacted a client about an outstanding £400 balance and it was subsequently found the money had been paid straight to Parsons.
Further enquiries found that over six years, she had received payments from multiple clients coming to £249,000, of which she was only able to repay £88,000.
Parsons pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position and was jailed for 30 months at Worcester Crown Court.
Police had found that she had requested and received payments from conveyancing clients who paid the money straight into her account. This money was used to meet personal financial commitments and pay back personal debts.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard that Parsons and the Solicitors Regulation Authority had made an agreed outcome that she should be struck off.
Parsons, who has recently been released on licence, apologised to the many colleagues and clients affected by her actions, saying that she recognised her misconduct had let the profession down and that her legal career was over.
She said with hindsight that her mental health had played a part in what she called ‘irrational and out of character decision-making’.
The tribunal rubber-stamped the strike-off, adding: ‘She bore sole responsibility for her actions. She failed to protect client interests and client money, abused her position of trust, and harm resulted. She obtained a personal advantage from her actions.’
No order was made for costs.
