A planning administrator has been disqualified from holding certain roles at firms regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority after she admitted being a drug dealer.
Ellie Walters, who is not a solicitor, was arrested and subsequently charged in June 2025 with being concerned in the supply of drugs. That month, appearing at Leeds magistrates court, Walters admitted and was convicted of being concerned in the supply or heroin and crack cocaine, two charges of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A (heroin and crack cocaine), possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and concealing/disguising/coverting/transferring or removing criminal property.
Walters was later sentenced to four years and eight months imprisonment.
In a section 43/section 99 order, the SRA said Walters had been employed by Optima Legal Services Limited as a planning and MI administrator between October 2019 and July 2025.
The regulator disqualified Walters from being the head of legal practice, head of finance and administration, a manager or an employee of a law firm regulated by the SRA.
Read more
The SRA said: ‘Ms Walters’ conduct breached relevant duties that applied to her as an employee of a licensed body, namely Principles 1, 2 and 5 of the SRA principles 2019.
‘It was found that it would be undesirable for Ms Walters to act as a head of legal practice, head of finance and administration, a manager or an employee of a body licensed in accordance with section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.’
Walters was also directed to pay £600 costs.
