Who? Neil Meachem, 50-year-old criminal partner at Dawbarns Pearson in King's Lynn.

Why is he in the news? Represents Michael Carroll, the Lottery winner convicted of possessing cocaine with a street value of more than 1,000 and allowing his premises to be used for drug-taking.

Mr Carroll was sent for drug rehabilitation after Mr Meachem argued that the Lottery win had not brought him happiness, and that the drugs were a way of easing the pain after his wife left him because of media attention.

Carroll picked up his 9.7 million cheque wearing a court-issued electronic tag in November 2002.

Background: Degree in history and English at Middlesex University 1974-77, then law conversion course 1978-79.

Articles at Hawkins in King's Lynn, and qualified in 1987.

Newly qualified solicitor at Brindley Twist Tafft & James in 1987 until returned to King's Lynn to join Pearson & Starling.

Became partner in 1990.

Firm merged to become Dawbarns Pearson in 2000.

Route to the case: Has acted for Carroll for many years, before his Lottery win.

Represented him on previous convictions for burglary, shoplifting, aggravated theft of a motor vehicle, and driving while disqualified.

Thoughts on the case: 'My client is not a particularly bad individual.

He had just met a nice young lady, got engaged, and secured his first employment (as a dustman).

He seemed to be turning himself around, and then he won the Lottery.

He found himself living in a goldfish bowl.

The girl could not cope with the media attention and left after a few months of marriage - our firm is also dealing with the settlement.

With that money there were a lot of hangers-on, and he fell in with the wrong crowd, seeking solace in drugs.

He is now anxious to get help with the addiction and get contact with his daughter.'

Dealing with the media: 'My client and I have been beleaguered by the national papers, and national and foreign television.

He did not help himself by appearing on 'Tonight with Trevor MacDonald', which is where the 'Lottery lout' tag came from.

The press have not left him alone since then - there has been a sea of cameras and dishes at every court case.

He is now very wary of the media.'

Rachel Rothwell