Sandra Fielding, the wife of former London lawyer Michael Fielding, was last week refused permission to appeal by the House of Lords against a decision requiring her to pay the Royal Bank of Scotland £3.5 million.

The sum was the debt on the Fieldings' joint account, which Mrs Fielding claimed she was unaware of. However, the Court of Appeal backed the order that she was still equally responsible for the debt. Mr Fielding went to Florida in 2001, having confessed to stealing client money, according to the appeal court.


Bankruptcy proceedings on behalf of the bank will be brought against Mrs Fielding this month. Nick Goldstone, a partner with London firm Magrath & Co acting for Mrs Fielding, said she could still appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.