A former partner at London firm Lawrence Graham who pleaded guilty to 23 counts of theft last month is scheduled to be sentenced this week.

The court heard how Michael Fielding made 140 withdrawals from client accounts, taking at least £6.5 million, including interest.


Fielding was released on £600,000 bail pending his sentencing, following the hearing at Southwark Crown Court last month. He was arrested in August when he returned to the UK from Florida, where he had resided for four years. A Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman said he had returned to the country voluntarily.


Fielding joined Lawrence Graham as a partner in 1996. The firm lodged an official complaint against him to the Metropolitan Police in 2001, relating to missing client funds.


Lawrence Graham said it had no comment.